Collection  of  «lmerican  Uiteratiur 


Ct)e  Uibrarp  of  tfjc  (llmUcrSitp  of 
i-^ortlj  Caroliiui 


"He  yave  back  as  rain  that  which  he 
rcceivcil  as  mist' ' 


r"'^-?  ;.(■)/-  577c        T.M- 


/'^^ctf.ti^..*-^  o^fc^.7.  rf/^rr 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N,C,  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00032761208 


FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


^ 


y  L   lPi^i'4I  f 


.n  J 


CHRONICLES 


OF  THE 


Gape  Fear  River 


BEING  SOME  ACCOUNT  OF  HISTORIC 

EVENTS   ON  THE  CAPE 

FEAR  RIVER 


BY  JAMES  SPRUNT 
Of  WILMINGTON.  N.  C. 


Ralelih 

Edwards  &  Bron^hton  Printing  Company 

1914 


Preface 

There  are  what  are  called  labors  of  love — when  men  turn 
from  their  work  in  the  business  world  and  at  great  pains  seek 
to  accomplish  something  for  the  benefit  and  advantage  of 
others. 

The  present  publication  is  the  fruit  of  Mr.  James  Sprunt's 
desire  to  collate  information  of  general  interest  concerning 
the  Cape  Fear  Eiver,  because  he  has  an  abiding  affection  for 
the  noble  stream  with  which  he  is  so  familiar  and  is  ani- 
mated by  a  purpose  to  preserve  in  convenient  form  some  ac- 
count of  local  incidents  that  are  worthy  of  being  remembered. 

In  the  years  just  before  the  war,  when  I  first  began  to  know 
the  active  men  of  Wilmington,  none  stood  higher  in  public 
esteem  than  Mr.  Alexander  Sprunt.  He  was  a  thorough  man 
of  business,  whose  intelligence  and  sterling  worth  commanded 
admiration,  while  his  brother.  Rev.  James  M.  Sprunt,  who 
was  teaching  the  Grove  Academy  in  Duplin,  added  to  the 
credit  of  the  name.  These  two  brothers  had  come  to  the  Cape 
Fear  some  ten  or  fifteen  years  earlier  and  had  won  what  is 
most  to  be  valued  in  life — the  good  opinion  of  those  who  knew 
them.  The  passage  of  time  has  yearly  added  to  the  reputa- 
tion of  the  name,  until  now  it  stands  unexcelled  in  the  busi- 
ness world. 

The  father  of  these  brothers,  Laurence  Sprunt,  a  farmer 
near  the  famous  town  of  Perth,  in  1812  married  Christiana 
McDonald,  daughter  of  a  Highland  family,  whose  brother, 
John  McDonald,  was  a  prosperous  planter  in  Jamaica,  and 
whose  cousins,  the  Menzies,  in  Scotland,  were  prominent  and 
wealthy.  After  his  marriage  Laurence  Sprunt  occupied  a 
small  farm  known  as  Viewfield,  near  Perth,  and  there  were 
bom  his  children,  Alexander,  James  Menzies,  and  Isabella, 
all  of  whom  were  educated  in  Edinburgh. 

After  graduating,  Alexander  became  a  partner  in  the  firm 
of  E-eed,  Irving  &  Co.,  of  London  and  Port-of-Spain,  Trini- 
dad, and  as  junior  partner  had  personal  charge  of  the  business 
at  Trinidad,  and  in  the  conduct  of  his  business  often  made 


vi  PREFACE 

trips  lip  the  Orinoco  River,  Venezuela.  For  a  brief  while  he 
returned  to  Scotland  and  married  there  Jeanie  Dalziel,  a 
lady  of  rare  personal  and  intellectual  gifts,  whose  life  was 
consecrated  in  its  beautiful  Christian  devotion.  In  the  biog- 
raphy of  another  it  is  incidentally  mentioned  that  "in  1841 
Alexander  Sprunt  was  a  ruling  elder  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Trinidad,  a  merchant  of  high  standing,  a  Queen's 
Commissioner,  or  Magistrate,"  That  he  had  already  attained 
an  enviable  position  and  enjoyed  a  good  name  is  easily  appa- 
rent. But  through  the  unfortunate  consequences  following 
the  emancipation  of  British  slaves,  Mr.  Sprunt  was  deprived 
of  his  accumulations,  and  after  some  ineffectual  efforts  in 
Scotland  to  repair  his  broken  fortune,  he  removed  to  Wil- 
mington, whither  his  brother,  Rev.  Doctor  James  Menzies 
Sprunt,  subsequently  a  chaplain  in  the  Confederate  Army, 
had  preceded  him.  An  expert  accountant,  he  soon  found  em- 
ployment in  the  Commercial  Bank,  and  later  with  T.  C.  & 
B.  G.  Worth.  On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  sailed  in 
the  Edwin  with  a  cargo  to  Barbadoes,  and  loaded  a  return 
cargo  of  coffee,  sugar,  and  molasses,  but  when  almost  in 
sight  of  Cape  Fear,  the  Edwin  was  taken  by  a  Federal 
cruiser  and  Mr.  Sprunt  was  imprisoned  at  Baltimore  until 
Lord  Lyons,  the  British  Minister,  secured  his  release.  It 
was,  however,  six  months  before  he  could  succeed  in  crossing 
the  Potomac  and  rejoining  his  family  in  Wilmington. 

During  those  years  his  son,  James  Sprunt,  after  studying 
at  various  preparatory  schools,  one  year  in  Mr.  Muncie's 
school  in  Glasgow,  one  year  under  his  uncle  at  Kenansville, 
four  years  at  Jewett's  Academy,  one  year  at  Colonel  Rad- 
cliffe's  Military  Academy,  and  one  year  at  Mr.  Mengert's 
school,  had  made  excellent  progress ;  but  while  in  his  four- 
teenth year,  under  the  pressure  of  circumstances,  he  was  put 
to  work  with  Worth  &  Daniel.  This  did  not  arrest  his  educa- 
tion, however,  for  he  attended  night  school  under  Professor 
Tallichet  in  French  and  English  literature,  and,  as  he  had  a 
desire  to  serve  the  State  at  sea,  he  studied  navigation  under 
Captain  Levy,  a  former  United  States  naval  officer.   But  dis- 


PREFACE 


appointed  in  securing  tlie  appointment  he  coveted,  eventually 
he  sailed  as  a  passenger  on  a  blockade  runner  to  Bermuda, 
with  the  promise  of  Captain  Burroughs  to  give  him  a  position 
on  the  North  Heath,  a  vessel  then  building  on  the  Clyde. 
When  the  North  Heath  arrived  at  Bermuda,  Captain  Bur- 
roughs appointed  him  purser  of  that  vessel ;  but  after  sailing 
they  encountered  a  terriffic  storm,  escaping  shipwreck  only  by 
splendid  seamanship  and  the  most  heroic  exertions ;  and  they 
had  to  put  into  Bermuda  for  repairs.     There  Mr.  Sprunt  was 
long  ill  with  fever,  and  the  North  Heath  sailed  without  him ; 
but  after  a  little  while  Capt.  J.  N.  Maffitt  appointed  him 
purser  of  the  steamer  Lilian  and  on  the  Lilian  he  passed 
through   all   the  dangerous   and   exciting   experiences   of   a 
daring  blockade  runner.     On  the  third  outward  voyage  the 
Ulian  was  chased,  bombarded  for  eight  hours,  disabled,  and 
captured ;  and  Mr.  Sprunt,  sharing  the  fate  of  his  associates, 
became  a  prisoner  of  war.    Subsequently  he  escaped,  but  met 
shipwreck  on  Green  Turtle  Cay,  and  it  was  eight  months  be- 
fore he  reached  home,  he  having  in  the  meantime  served  as 
purser  of  the  Confederate  steamer  Susan  Bierne,  of  which 
Eugene  Maffitt  was  chief  officer;  and  he  continued  on  this 
blockade  runner  until  Fort  Fisher  fell. 

On  his  third  inward  trip  he  had  imported  ten  barrels  of 
sugar,  which  his  father  sold,  investing  the  proceeds  in  24  bales 
of  cotton.  Sherman's  raiders  burnt  twelve  of  these  bales,  but 
with  gTcat  difficulty  the  others  were  saved,  and  after  peace 
they  were  sold  at  48  cents  a  pound.  With  the  proceeds  the 
firm  of  Alexander  Sprunt  &  Son  was  founded  in  1865-66, 
and  although  like  others  it  has  suffered  the  vicissitudes  of 
changing  conditions,  it  has  successfully  weathered  business 
storms,  repaired  disasters,  and  surmounted  most  discouraging 
difficulties.  Always  adhering  to  the  principles  of  its  wise 
and  righteous  founder,  who  passed  away  thirty  years  ago,  it 
has,  under  the  masterful  direction  of  Mr.  James  Sprunt  and 
his  brother,  Mr.  William  H.  Sprunt,  prospered,  continually 
increasing  in  strength  and  reputation  until  it  has  attained  a 
unique  position  in  the  business  world. 


viii  PREFACE 

Upon  the  death  of  his  father,  who  had  represented  the  Brit- 
ish Government  in  North  Carolina  for  about  twenty  years, 
Mr.  James  Sprunt  was,  without  solicitation  on  his  part,  ap- 
pointed British  Vice  Consul,  and  from  this  appointment. 
May  6,  1884,  to  the  present  time  he  has  held  that  honorable 
post.  During  these  thirty  years  he  has  been  twice  thanked 
by  the  British  Government — once  by  the  British  Admiralty 
for  his  correction  of  its  important  aids  to  navigation,  and 
again  by  Lord  Salisbury,  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Affairs, 
for  his  official  report  on  the  Cuba  man-of-war  incident. 

In  1907  the  German  Emperor  appointed  Mr.  Sprunt  Im- 
perial German  Consul  for  North  Carolina  and  sent  him  his 
autograph  commission,  a  very  high  compliment,  which  was 
not  solicited  by  him  nor  by  his  friends.  Mr.  Sprunt  acted 
in  that  capacity  for  live  years,  during  which  he  was  twice 
complimented  by  the  Imperial  Chancellor  Von  Biilow  for 
his  official  reports,  and  when  he  resigned  in  consequence  of 
impaired  health,  Emperor  William  very  graciously  decorated 
him  with  the  Order  of  the  Royal  Crown,  which  is  only  given 
for  valor  in  battle  and  for  distinguished  services  to  the  State. 

During  the  years  covering  Mr.  Sprunt's  activities,  Wil- 
mington has  made  most  gratifying  progress.  The  facilities 
of  commerce  have  been  multiplied;  the  trucking  industries 
have  been  largely  developed ;  the  jobbing  business  has  attained 
remarkable  proportions;  the  bank  deposits  have  tremen- 
dously increased;  and,  with  the  removal  of  obstacles,  the 
enterprise  and  capabilities  of  the  Wilmington  merchants  have 
achieved  splendid  results.  Indeed  there  has  been  progress 
all  along  the  line,  resulting  in  a  general  diffusion  of  pros- 
perity. 

But  no  other  factor  leading  to  these  notable  results  has 
been  so  effective  as  the  business  inaugurated  by  the  firm  of 
Alexander  Sprunt  &  Son. 

The  combined  production  of  cotton  in  North  Carolina  and 
in  South  Carolina  in  a  good  season  is  approximately  two  and 
a  half  million  bales,  of  which  the  local  mills  take  by  far  the 
greater  part.     Of  the  residue,  the  principal  export  house  in 


PREFACE  ix 

Wilmington,  Alexander  Sprunt  &  Son,  buys  from  tlie  produc- 
ers directly  through  their  local  agents  at  a  hundred  and  fifteen 
interior  stations  about  half  a  million  bales.  These  large  ex- 
ports, of  the  value  of  thirty  million  dollars,  pay  tribute  to 
Wilmington  to  the  extent  of  over  a  million  dollars  annually 
in  railroad  freight,  in  handling  expenses,  trucking,  compress- 
ing, and  storing;  and  besides,  from  fifty  to  a  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  are  left  by  the  trans-Atlantic  steamers  in  the 
port  of  Wilmington  for  port  charges  and  expenses.  Indeed, 
the  eight  hundred  employees  of  this  company,  white  and 
black,  contribute  much  of  the  money  in  circulation  in  Wil- 
mington that  supports  the  retail  trade. 

ISTearly  thirty  years  ago  the  present  senior  partner  in  this 
house  foresaw  that  the  sources  of  cotton  supply  and  demand 
would  ultimately  be  brought  into  closer  relations;  and  he 
made  a  tour  of  seventeen  foreign  countries  in  which  American 
cotton  was  used,  and  established  direct  business  relations 
between  the  foreign  consumers  and  the  Wilmington  firm.  It 
was  the  pioneer  movement,  and  the  working  details  were  diffi- 
cult. Indeed,  some  of  the  obstacles  seemed  almost  insur- 
mountable. The  depth  of  water  in  the  Cape  Fear  and  on 
the  bar  was  not  sufficient  to  float  safely  the  most  desirable 
class  of  vessels  for  the  export  trade,  and  shipowners  were 
slow  to  trust  their  vessels  upon  a  tortuous  stream  in  shallow 
water  with  only  three  feet  rise  of  tide.  Moreover,  the  capital 
of  the  firm  was  limited,  and  their  business  was  conducted 
strictly  on  the  conservative  principles  laid  down  by  the 
founder  of  the  firm  which  still  bears  his  name ;  but  in  the  end 
caution  and  perseverance  established  confidence  and  brought 
success.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  from  the  beginning  of 
the  firm  in  1865-66  up  to  the  present  time,  although  hun- 
dreds of  millions  of  dollars  have  passed  through  the  main 
office  in  Wilmington  and  their  branches  in  Boston  and  Hous- 
ton and  Liverpool,  Bremen  and  Havre,  not  on  any  occasion 
has  their  paper  ever  been  dishonored. 

As  circumstances  permitted,  the  requisite  accessories  were 
installed.  The  Champion  cotton  compress  was  put  in  opera- 
tion by  the  firm,  and  the  Wilmington  Compress  and  Ware- 


X  PREFACE 

house  is  chiefly  owned  and  operated  by  them.  The  plant  is 
among  the  best  and  most  complete  in  the  South,  representing 
a  large  outlay  in  capital,  and  it  is  so  conveniently  arranged  as 
to  afford  the  most  improved  facilities  for  the  loading  and 
unloading  of  five  large  steamships  simultaneously. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  the  partners  in  the  Boston  office,  the 
Houston  office,  and  in  the  Bremen  and  Havre  firms  were  all 
trained  from  boyhood  in  the  Wilmington  office;  Mr.  William 
H.  Sprunt,  now  the  most  active  partner,  having  been  born 
in  Wilmington.  It  has  been  a  Wilmington  business,  first 
and  last,  fortunate  in  its  operations  and  beneficent  in  its 
results. 

All  through  life  Mr.  Sprunt  has  had  close  association  with 
the  Cape  Fear  Eiver  and  the  bark  bearing  his  hopes  and  for- 
tunes has  had  its  home  on  the  bosom  of  that  historic  stream. 
Not  only  his  business  but  the  pleasures  and  happy  incidents 
of  his  daily  life  have  been  so  blended  with  its  waters  that  he 
cherishes  a  warm  affection  for  the  river  itself.  Thus  he  has 
been  minded  to  preserve  its  traditions  and  its  tales — the 
preparation  being  indeed  a  labor  of  love,  undertaken  in  a 
spirit  of  grateful  return  for  the  many  blessings  he  has  enjoyed 
both  at  his  home  in  the  city  and  at  his  home  at  Orton,  which 
alike  are  redolent  with  delightful  reminiscence. 

S.  A.  Ashe. 


Contents 


PAGE 

FOEEWOED    xiii 

ExPLOEATiON  AND  SETTLEMENT:  Origin  of  Cape  Fear; -Sources 
and  Tributaries — Cape  Fear  Indians — Archaeology  of  New 
Hanover — Indian  Mounds — The  Indians  of  the  Lower  Cape 
Fear — First  Attempted  Settlement — Charlestown — Report 
of  Commissioners  to  Explore — Sandford's  Account  of  Con- 
ditions at  Charlestown — The  End  of  Charlestown — The 
Pirates    1 

Pebmanent  Settlement:  Brunswick — A  Visit  to  the  Cape  Fear, 
1734 — Erection  of  Wilmington — Decay  of  Brunswick — 
Spanish  Invasion,  1747 — Colonial  Plantations — Social  Con- 
ditions— Colonial  Orton — Libraries  on  the  Cape  Fear — 
The  Provincial  Port  of  Brunswick — The  Stamp  Act  on  the 
Cape  Fear — Russellborough 41 

The  Revolution:  The  Institution  of  the  Revolutionary  Govern- 
ment— Proceedings  of  the  Committee  of  Safety — Colonial 
Oflacers — Whigs  and  Tories — The  Battle  of  Elizabethtown 
— Flora  Macdonald — Major  Jack  Walker 82 

Eaelt  Yeaes:  The  First  Steamboat — The  Disastrous  Year  of 
1819 — Negro  Insurrection — Plantations  on  the  Northeast 
— Old  St.  James — First  Cape  Fear  River  Improvements — 
Railroads,  First  Project — First  Declaration  of  a  State 
Policy — Origin  of  the  Railroad  Project — The  Wilmington 
and  Weldon  R.  R. — The  Longest  Railroad  in  the  World — 
The  Development  of  the  Railroad — Wilmington's  Com- 
merce—Public Spirit— Activities  on  the  River,  1850-1860— 
Coal — Forgotten  Aids  to  Navigation — Fayetteville 103 

Notable  Incidents:  Visits  of  Presidents  before  the  War — 
Washington,  Monroe,  Polk,  Fillmore — Visits  of  Henry 
Clay — Daniel  Webster — Edward  Everett — Reception  of 
Remains  of  Calhoun — General  McKay — Wilkings  and 
Flanner  Duel — Old  School  Days — Governor  Dudley — 
Colonel  Burr — The  Thalians — Odd  Characters — Joe  Jeffer- 
son      153 

The  War  Between  the  States:  On  the  Eve  of  Secession — 
George  Davis — Answer  to  Lincoln's  Call  for  Troops — 
A  Capture  before  the  War — Early  War  Times — During  the 
War— The  Blockade— The  Cruisers— A  Port  of  Refuge — 
Changes  During  the  War — The  Pestilence — Mrs.  DeRosset 
— War  Prices — Record  of  the  Officers — The  Roster  of  Camp 
Cape  Fear  U.  C.  V. — Fort  Fisher  and  Other  Defenses — 
Cape  Fear  Pilots 219 


xii  CONTENTS 

PAOK 

Blockade  Running:  Financial  Estimate  of  Blockade  Running — 

North  Carolina  Steamer  Advance — Captain  Wilkinson — 
Usina — Taylor — Rescue  of  Madame  DeRosset — Improved 
Ships  and  Notable  Commanders — Famous  Blockade  Run- 
ners—A Close  Call— The  Kate— The  British  Flag— Closing 
Scenes — The  Confederate  Navy — Wilmington  During  the 
Blockade — Lines  to  Mrs.  Greenhow — Capture  of  Wilming- 
ton       372 

Peace  Restored:  Resumption  of  Commerce — Disastrous  Fires — 
Cuba  Man-of-War  Incident  —  Federal  Government  Im- 
provements, Upper  Cape  Fear — Board  of  Commissioners 
of  Navigation  and  Pilotage — U.  S.  Revenue  Cutter  Service 
— Cape  Fear  Life  Saving  Service — Cape  Fear  Aids  to 
Navigation — Use  of  Oil  to  Prevent  Breaking  Seas — The 
Earthquake,  1886— Visit  of  the  Cruiser  Raleigh — Visit  of 
President  Taft — Boyhood  of  President  Wilson — Southport 
— Fort  Caswell — Coastal  Canal  Project — Congressional  Aid 
to  River  Improvement — City  and  Port  of  Wilmington — 
Cape  Fear  Newspapers — The  Bar — The  Public  Buildings — 
The  Schools— The  Boys'  Brigade — The  Revolution  of  1898 
— The  Atlantic  Coast  Line — The  Seaboard  Air  Line — Hugh 
MacRae's  Projects — Tide-Water  Power  Co. — The  River 
Gaunties — The  Growth  of  Wilmington — Looking  Forward.   468 


Foreword 

From  early  youth  I  have  loved  the  Cape  Fear  the  ships 
and  the  sailors  which  it  bears  upon  its  bosom.  As  a  boy  i 
delighted  to  wander  along  the  wharves  where  the  sailing  ships 
were  moored  with  their  graceful  spars  and  rigging  m  reliet 
against  the  sky  line,  with  men  aloft,  whose  uncouth  cries  and 
^nown  tongues  inspired  me  with  a  longing  for  the  sea 
which  I  afterwards  followed,  and  for  the  far-away  countries 
whence  they  had  come. 

In  later  years,  I  heard  the  stories  of  the  old  time  Cape  Fear 
gentlemen,  whose  memories  I  revere,  and  I  treasured    hose 
annals  o£  our  brave  and  generous  people;  I  knew  all  the 
pilots  of  the  Cape  Fear,  whose  record  of  brave  deeds  and 
unswerving  loyalty  to  the  Confederacy,  mider  great  tnal  and 
temptation!  and  whose  steadfast  industry  in  their  dangerous 
calling  are  worthy  of  all  praise;  and  now,  actuated  by  an 
earnest  desire  to  render  a  public  service  after  many  years 
contact  with  its  men  and  affairs,  I  have  essayed  to  wnte  in 
the  following  pages  a  concise  narrative  of  the  sources  and 
tributary  streams  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  the  origin  ofte 
name,  the  development  of  its  commerce,  and  the  artificial 
aids  to  its  navigation,  with  a  few  historical  incidents  of  its 
tidewater  region.  , 

The  limited  scope  of  this  undertaking  does  not  reach 
beyond  the  mere  outlines  of  its  romantic  dramatic  history  ol 
which  much  has  been  ably  written  by  George  Davis,  Alfred 
Moore  Waddell,  Samuel  A.  Ashe,  and  other  historians  of  the 

Cape  Fear.  .   ■,       ^      j         a^^ 

No  more  is  heard  the  long-drawn  cry  of  the  stevedore,  go 
ahead  horse"  and  "back  down  lively,"  nor  the  cheerfu^ 
chants  of  the  old  time  sailor-men  as  they  tramped  around 
the  windlass  from  wharf  to  wharf.  The  distracting  ham- 
mering against  rusting  steel  plates,  the  clanking  of  chains 
against  the  steamship's  sides,  and  the  raucous  racket  of  the 
steam  donkey,  betoken  a  new  era  in  the  harbor  of  Wilming- 
ton •  but  the  silent  river  flows  on  with  the  silent  years  as  when 


xiv  FOREWORD 

Yeamans  came  with  the  first  settlers,  or  as  when  Flora 
Macdonald  sailed  past  the  town  to  the  restful  haven  of  Cross 
Creek ;  and  the  Dram  Tree  still  stands  to  warn  the  outgoing 
mariner  that  his  voyage  has  begun  and  to  welcome  the  incom- 
ing storm-tossed  sailor  to  the  quiet  harbor  beyond. 

I  have  largely  obtained  the  data  of  the  commercial  develop- 
ment of  the  river  from  oflScial  sources  or  reliable  records,  and 
I  have  copied  verbatim,  in  some  technical  details,  the  generous 
responses  to  my  inquiries  by  Maj.  H.  W.  Stickle,  Corps  of 
Engineers  U.  S.  A. ;  Capt.  C.  S.  Eidley,  U.  S.  A.,  Assistant 
Engineer ;  Mr.  R.  C.  Merritt,  Assistant  Engineer ;  Mr.  Joseph 
Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist ;  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Holmes,  Director 
Bureau  of  Mines;  Capt.  G.  L.  Garden,  Commanding  U.  S. 
Revenue  Cutter  Seminole;  Mr.  H.  D.  King,  Inspector  Lights 
and  Lighthouses,  Sixth  District,  and  Hon.  S.  I.  Kimball, 
General  Superintendent  of  the  Life  Saving  Service,  to  each 
of  whon^I  make  this  grateful  acknowledgment. 

James  Sprunt. 


Exploration  and  Settlement 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  I^AME,  CAPE  FEAR. 

The  origin  of  the  name,  Cape  Fear,  and  its  confusion  in 
some  of  our  early  maps  with  Ca'pe  Fair  led  many  years  ago 
to  a  discussion  by  the  Historical  and  Scientific  Society  of 
Wilmington,  of  which  this  writer  was  the  secretary.  A 
prominent  Wilmingtonian  of  his  day,  Mr.  Henry  Nutt,  to 
whose  indefatigable,  intelligent  efforts  and  public  spirit  the 
closure  of  New  Inlet  was  largely  due,  stoutly  maintained  in 
a  forceful  address  before  that  body  that  the  name  was  origi- 
nally Fair  and  not  Fear. 

Mr.  George  Davis  subsequently  took  the  opposite  view  in 
his  valuable  contribution  entitled  An  Episode  in  Cape  Fear 
History  J  published  in  the  South  Atlantic  Magazine,  Janu- 
ary, 1879. 

Would  that  our  youth  of  the  rising  generation  who  daily 
pass  the  bronze  effigy  of  this  foremost  scholar  and  statesman 
of  the  Cape  Fear  knew  more  of  one  whose  wisdom  truly  illus- 
trated the  principles  of  law  and  equity,  whose  eloquence 
commanded  the  admiration  of  his  peers,  who  was  beloved  for 
his  stainless  integrity,  and,  shining  in  the  pure  excellence  of 
virtue  and  refinement,  exemplified  with  dignity  and  sim- 
plicity, with  gentle  courtesy  and  Christian  faith,  the  true 
heart  of  chivalry  in  Southern  manhood. 

Said  Mr.  Davis:  "Is  it  Cape  Fair?  Or  Cape  Fear? 
Adjective  or  noun?  ^Under  which  King,  Bezonian?'  This 
old,  familiar  name  under  which  our  noble  river  rolls  its 
waters  to  the  sea,  is  it  the  true  prince  of  the  ancient  line, 
or  a  base  pretender,  usurping  the  seat  of  the  rightful  heir, 
and,  after  the  fashion  of  usurpers,  giving  us  terror  for  beauty, 
storm  for  sunshine  ? 

"There  are  some  among  our  most  intelligent  citizens  who 
maintain  that  the  true  name  was,  and  ought  to  be  now,  Cape 
Fair;  and  that  it  was  originally  so  given  because  the  first 
adventurers,  seeing  vdth  the  eye  of  enthusiasm,  found  every- 
thing here  to  be  fair,  attractive  and  charming.     And  it  has 


3  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

even  been  said  very  lately  that  it  was  never  called  by  its 
present  name  until  after  1750,  and  never  officially  until  1780. 
(Address  of  H.  Nutt  before  H.  and  S.  Society.)  Unfortu- 
nately, in  the  mists  which  envelop  some  portions  of  our  early 
history,  it  is  sometimes  very  difficult  to  guard  against  being 
betrayed  into  erroneous  conjectures  by  what  appear  to  be 
very  plausible  reasons ;  and  the  materials  for  accurate  inves- 
tigation are  not  of  easy  access.  It  is  not  surprising,  there- 
fore, that  this  opinion  should  have  existed  for  some  time, 
not  generally,  but  to  a  limited  extent.  Beyond  all  doubt 
it  is  erroneous,  and  the  proofs  are  conclusive  that  our  people 
have  been  right  in  finally  rejecting  the  Beautiful  theory,  and 
accepting  the  Fearful.  I  know  of  no  authority  for  this 
opinion,  except  the  occasional  spelling  of  the  word.  The 
strength  of  the  argument  seems  to  be  this — Captain  Hilton 
was  sent  in  1663  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the  coun- 
try; he  did  examine  it,  reported  in  glowing  terms  as  to  its 
beauty  and  attractiveness,  and  throughout  his  report  spelled 
the  name  Fair.  I  answer — Very  true.  But  three  years 
later,  in  1666,  Robert  Home  published  his  Brief  Descrip- 
tion of  Carolina,  under  the  eye,  and  no  doubt  by  the  pro- 
curement of  the  Proprietors;  he  describes  the  country  in 
much  more  glowing  terms  of  praise  than  Hilton  did,  but 
spells  the  name,  throughout,  Fear.  And  where  are  we  then  ? 
And  later  still,  in  1711,  a  high  authority,  Christopher  Gale, 
Chief  Justice  of  North  Carolina,  like  a  prudent  politician 
who  has  not  made  up  his  mind  which  party  to  join,  spells  it 
neither  Fair  nor  Fear,  but  Fare.  (2  Hawks,  391.)  That 
the  name  in  early  times  was  not  infrequently  spelt  Fair  is 
unquestionable.  Besides  Hilton's  report,  it  is  so  given  in 
the  Letter  of  the  English  Adventurers  to  the  Proprietors, 
1663 ;  in  the  Instructions  of  the  Proprietors  to  Governor  Yea- 
mans,  1665 ;  in  Lawson's  history  and  map,  1709 ;  and  on 
Wimble's  map,  1738.  And  perhaps  other  instances  may  be 
found. 

"But  all  these,  if  they  stood  alone  and  unopposed,  could 
hardly  form  the  basis  of  any  solid  argument.     For  all  who 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  3 

are  accustomed  to  examine  historical  documents  will  know 
too  well  how  wildly  independent  of  all  law,  if  there  was  any 
law,  our  ancestors  were  in  their  spelling,  especially  of  proper 
names.  Pen  in  hand,  they  were  accustomed  to  dare  every 
vagary,  and  no  amount  of  heroic  spelling  ever  appalled  them. 

"Some  examples  will  be  instructive  in  our  present  inves- 
tigation. Take  the  great  name  of  him  who  was  'wholly  gen- 
tleman, wholly  soldier,' — ^who,  falling  under  the  displeasure 
of  a  scoundrel  King,  and  languishing  for  twelve  long  years 
under  sentence  of  ignominious  death,  sent  forth  through  his 
prison  bars  such  melodious  notes  that  the  very  King's  son 
cried  out,  'No  monarch  in  Christendom  but  my  father  would 
keep  such  a  bird  in  a  cage' ;  who,  inexhaustible  in  ideas  as  in 
exploits,  after  having  brought  a  new  world  to  light,  wrote  the 
history  of  the  old  in  a  prison;  and  then  died,  because  God 
had  made  him  too  great  for  his  fellows — that  name  which 
to  North  Carolinian  ears  rings  down  through  the  ages  like  a 
glorious  chime  of  bells — the  name  of  our  great  Sir  Walter. 
We  know  that  it  was  spelt  three  different  ways,  Raleigh, 
Ealegh,  and  Rawlegh. 

"And  Sir  Walter's  heroic  kinsman,  that  grand  old  sea-king 
who  fought  his  single  ship  for  fifteen  straight  hours  against 
fifteen  Spaniards,  one  after  another,  muzzle  to  muzzle,  and 
then  yielded  up  his  soul  to  God  in  that  cheerful  temper 
wherewith  men  go  to  a  banquet:  'Here  die  I,  Richard 
Greenville,  and  with  a  joyful  and  quiet  mind,  having  ended 
my  life  like  a  true  soldier  that  has  fought  for  his  country. 
Queen,  religion,  and  honor.'  He  was  indifferently  Green- 
ville, Grenville,  and  Granville. 

"And  take  another  of  these  sea-kings  of  old  who  sailed  to 
America  in  the  early  days — that  brilliant,  restless,  daring 
spirit  who  crowded  into  a  few  brief  years  enough  of  wild 
adventure  and  excitement  to  season  a  long  life,  and  then  died 
but  little  more  than  a  boy — he  was  indifferently  Cavendish 
and  Candish. 

"Who,  without  assistance,  could  recognize  Bermuda  in  the 
'still  vexed  Bermoothes'  of  Shakespeare?  And  Home's 
2 


4  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

pamphlet  of  which  I  have  spoken  could  only  improve  it  into 
Barmoodoes. 

"Coming  down  to  the  very  time  of  which  we  are  speaking, 
one  of  the  first  acts  of  the  Lords  Proprietors  after  receiving 
their  magnificent  grant  was  to  publish  the  important  docu- 
ment to  which  I  have  alluded,  the  Declaration  and  Pro- 
posals to  all  who  will  plant  in  Carolina.  It  is  signed  by 
some  of  the  most  famous  names  in  English  History — George, 
Duke  of  Albemarle,  the  prime  mover  in  bringing  about  the 
restoration  of  the  King;  Edward,  Earl  of  Clarendon,  Lord 
High  Chancellor,  and  grandfather  of  two  English  queens,  but 
far  more  famous  as  the  author  of  that  wonderful  book,  the 
History  of  the  Great  Rebellion;  Anthony,  Earl  of  Shaftes- 
bury, Lord  High  Chancellor  and  one  of  the  greatest  parlia- 
mentary leaders  that  England  ever  produced,  but  far  greater 
as  the  author  of  that  second  charter  of  Anglo-Saxon  liberties, 
the  Habeas  Corpus  Act.  This  very  gifted  and  very  famous 
Earl  of  Shaftesbury,  who,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  was  more  dis- 
tinguished for  brilliant  talents  than  for  virtuous  principles, 
besides  being  one  of  the  Proprietors  had  an  additional  claim 
to  our  remembrance  which  has  not  been  generally  known. 
He  was  the  first  Chief  Justice  of  North  Carolina.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Proprietors  held  at  the  Cockpit  the  21st  of 
October,  1669,  (Kivers,  346)  he  was  elected  the  first  Chief 
Justice  of  Carolina.  As  he  never  visited  America  I  presume 
his  ofiice  was  in  a  great  degree  purely  honorary.  But  he 
certainly  executed  its  functions  to  the  extent  at  least  of  its 
official  patronage.  For  the  record  has  been  preserved  which 
shows  that  on  the  10th  of  June,  1675,  by  virtue  of  that  office, 
he  appointed  Andrew  Percival  to  be  Register  of  Berkeley 
Precinct.  He  had  not  then  been  raised  to  the  peerage,  but 
was  only  Sir  Anthony  Ashley  Cooper.  He  gave  his  two 
family  names  to  the  rivers  at  Charleston,  and  then  took  him- 
self the  title  of  Shaftesbury. 

"Such  were  some  of  the  signers  of  this  pamphlet.  Surely 
these  men  knew.  Surely  they  would  give  us  some  unim- 
peachable English.     Well,  we  have  an  exact  copy  of  the  pam- 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  5 

pUet  and  I  give  you  my  word  that,  according  to  our  notions 
the  spelling  of  it  is  enough  to  put  the  whole  school  of  lexi- 
cographers in  a  madhouse.  Instance  the  following:  Clar- 
ending,  Northine,  plantacon,  proposealls,  grannte,  ingaige, 
groathe,  etc.,  etc.  These  examples,  which  might  be  indefi- 
nitely multiplied,  are  sufficient  to  show  that  he  is  a  bold 
speculator  who  will  venture  to  build  an  opinion  on  the  spell- 
ing of  a  name. 

"But  the  opposing  proofs  are  quite  conclusive,  and  I  do  not 
scruple  to  promise  that  for  every  authentic  map  or  document, 
prior  to  the  year  1700,  in  which  the  name  is  written  Fair,  I 
will  point  out  at  least  two  in  which  it  is  written  as  at  present. 
An  examination  of  some  of  the  most  important  of  them  will 
remove  all  doubt  from  the  subject. 

"In  DeBry's  map  of  Lane's  expedition,  1585,  no  name  is 
given  to  the  Cape,  but  we  find  it  distinctly  laid  down,  and  in- 
dicated by  two  Latin  words  which  are  very  significant,  pro- 
montorium  tremendum.  And  in  the  narrative  of  Sir  Kichard 
Greenville's  first  expedition,  in  the  same  year,  we  find  the 
very  first  recorded  mention  of  the  name,  which  ought  to  be 
sufficient  of  itself  to  fix  its  certainty  for  all  time.  For  we 
read  there,  for  the  month  of  June,  1585,  this  entry:  'The 
23d  we  were  in  great  danger  of  a  wreck  on  a  breach  called  the 
Cape  of  Fear.' 

"And  two  years  later,  in  the  narrative  of  the  first  voyage 
under  White, -we  are  told  in  July,  1587,  that  'had  not  Cap- 
tain Stafford  been  more  careful  in  looking  out  than  our 
Simon  Fernando,  we  had  been  all  cast  away  upon  the  breach 
called  the  Cape  of  Fear.' 

"And  here  we  have  another  orthographic  problem  to  solve. 
Both  of  these  old  worthies  speak  of  the  Cape  of  Fear  as  being 
not  a  beach,  but  a  breach;  and,  on  the  strength  of  that,  possi- 
bly some  severe  precisian  may  hereafter  start  the  theory,  and 
prove  it  too,  that  the  Cape  was  no  Cape  at  all,  but  only  a 
breach  or  channel  through  the  Frying  Pan  Shoals. 

"Coming  down  near  a  hundred  years  to  the  time  of  the  first 
settlements,  we  find  the  original  spelling  preserved  in  the 


6  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Letter  of  the  Proprietors  to  Sir  William  Berkeley,  1G63;  in 
the  Proposals  of  the  Proprietors  already  mentioned,  1GG3  ;  in 
Home's  Brief  Description  of  Carolina,  and  on  the  accom- 
panying map,  166G ;  in  the  map  styled  A  New  Description  of 
Carolina,  1671 ;  in  the  Instructions  of  the  Proprietors  to  the 
Governor  and  Council  of  Carolina,  1683,  and  in  a  great  many 
others. 

"These  proofs  would  seem  to  leave  nothing  wanting  to  a 
clear  demonstration  of  the  real  name.  But  there  is  something 
yet  to  be  added.  They  show  that  during  the  same  period  of 
time  the  name  was  spelt  both  ways  indifferently,  not  only  by 
different  persons,  but  by  the  same  persons,  who  had  peculiar 
means  of  knowing  the  truth.  It  is  clear,  therefore,  that  the 
two  modes  were  not  expressive  of  two  different  ideas,  but 
only  different  forms  of  expressing  the  same  idea.  What  then 
was  the  true  idea  of  the  name — its  raison  d'etre  ? 

"In  pursuing  that  inquiry  our  attention  must  be  directed  to 
the  Cape  alone,  and  not  to  the  River.  For,  as  we  have  seen, 
the  Cape  bore  its  name  for  near  a  hundred  years  during  which 
the  Eiver  was  nameless,  if  not  unknown.  And,  when  brought 
into  notice  afterwards,  the  River  bore  at  first  a  different  name 
and,  only  after  some  time,  glided  into  the  name  of  the  Cape. 
Thus,  in  the  Letter  of  the  Proprietors  to  Sir  William  Berke- 
ley, 8th  September,  1663,  after  directing  him  to  procure  a 
small  vessel  to  explore  the  Sounds,  they  say,  *And  whilst  they 
are  aboard  they  may  look  into  Charles  River  a  very  little  to 
the  Southward  of  Cape  Fear.'  And  so  in  the  Proposals  of  the 
Proprietors,  15th  August,  1663,  'If  the  first  colony  will 
settle  on  Charles  River,  near  Cape  Fear,'  etc.,  etc.,  and  in 
Home's  map,  1666,  the  name  is  Charles  River. 

"Looking  then  to  the  Cape  for  the  idea  and  reason  of  its 
name,  we  find  that  it  is  the  southernmost  point  of  Smith's  Is- 
land— a  naked,  bleak  elbow  of  sand,  jutting  far  out  into  the 
ocean.  Immediately  in  its  front  are  the  Frying  Pan  Shoals 
pushing  out  still  farther  twenty  miles  to  sea.  Together  they 
stand  for  warning  and  for  woe;  and  together  they  catch  the 
long  majestic  roll  of  the  Atlantic  as  it  sweeps  through  a 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  7 

thousand  miles  of  grandeur  and  power,  from  the  Arctic  to 
wards  the  Gulf.  It  is  the  playground  of  billows  and  tem- 
pests, the  kingdom  of  silence  and  awe,  disturbed  by  no  sound, 
save  the  sea  gull's  shriek  and  the  breaker's  roar.  Its  whole 
aspect  is  suggestive,  not  of  repose  and  beauty,  but  of  desola- 
tion and  terror.  Imagination  cannot  adorn  it.  Romance 
cannot  hallow  it.  Local  pride  cannot  soften  it.  There  it 
stands  to-day,  bleak,  and  threatening,  and  pitiless,  as  it  stood 
three  hundred  years  ago,  when  Greenville  and  White  came 
nigh  unto  death  upon  its  sands.  And  there  it  will  stand 
bleak,  and  threatening,  and  pitiless,  until  the  earth  and  the 
sea  shall  give  up  their  dead.  And,  as  its  nature,  so  its  name, 
is  now,  always  has  been,  and  always  will  be,  the  Cape  of 
Fear." 


SOURCES  AND  TRIBUTARIES  OF  THE  CAPE 
FEAR  RIVER. 

The  Cape  Fear  River,  said  to  have  been  known  to  the  In- 
dian aborigines  as  "Sapona,"  later  to  the  explorers  and  to 
the  promoters  in  England  as  the  Charles  River,  the  Claren- 
don River,  and  as  the  Cape  Fair  River,  is  formed  by  the 
junction  of  the  Haw  and  Deep  Rivers  in  Chatham  Coimty, 
North  Carolina.  From  their  confluence,  which  is  about  173 
miles  by  river  above  Wilmington,  it  flows  in  a  southeasterly 
direction  through  Harnett,  Cumberland,  and  Bladen  Coun- 
ties, and  between  Brunsvidck  and  New  Hanover  to  the  sea. 
The  Haw  River  rises  in  Rockingham  and  Guilford  Counties 
and  flows  in  a  southeasterly  direction  through  Alamance, 
Orange,  and  Chatham  Counties  to  its  junction  with  the  Deep 
River,  a  distance  of  about  80  miles  measured  along  its  gen- 
eral course.  The  Deep  River  is  of  about  the  same  length  as 
the  Haw.  It  rises  in  Guilford  County  and  flows  through 
Randolph  and  Moore  Counties,  and  joins  the  Haw  in 
Chatham. 

The  Deep  River  drains  about  1,400  square  miles.  Its 
tributaries  are  only  small  creeks,  the  most  important  being 


8  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Eocky  River.  The  Haw  River  drains  about  1,800  square 
miles,  and  its  tributaries  are  also  small,  but  are  larger  than 
those  of  the  Deep  River.  The  principal  ones,  descending 
from  the  headwaters,  are  Reedy  Fork,  Alamance  Creek,  Cane 
Creek,  and  New  Hope  River. 

Between  the  junction  of  the  Deep  and  the  Haw  Rivers  and 
Fajetteville,  a  distance  of  about  58  miles,  the  most  important 
tributaries  which  join  the  Cape  Fear  are  Upper  Little 
River,  from  the  west,  32  miles  long;  and  Lower  Little  River, 
from  the  west,  45  miles  long.  There  are  other  small  creeks, 
the  most  important  being  Carvers  Creek  and  Blounts  Creek. 

Between  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville  the  most  important 
tributary  is  Black  River,  which  enters  from  the  east  about  15 
miles  above  Wilmington  and  has  a  drainage  basin  of  about 
1,430  square  miles.  There  are  several  creeks  which  enter 
below  Fayetteville,  the  principal  one  being  Rockfish  Creek, 
which  enters  10  miles  below  Fayetteville. 

The  entire  drainage  basin  above  Fayetteville  covers  an 
area  of  4,493  square  miles,  and  the  total  drainage  area  of 
the  Cape  Fear  and  all  its  tributaries  is  about  8,400  square 
miles. 

At  Wilmington  the  Cape  Fear  River  proper  is  joined  by 
the  Northeast  Cape  Fear  River.  Their  combined  average 
discharge  at  Wilmington  for  the  year  is  about  14,000  feet  a 
second.  Floods  in  their  tributaries  have  but  little  effect  on 
the  water  level  at  Wilmington.  The  lower  river  is  tidal,  and 
the  effects  of  tidal  variations  are  felt  about  40  miles  above 
the  city  on  both  branches. 

The  City  of  Wilmington  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
opposite  the  junction  of  the  two  branches,  and  nearly  all 
wharves,  mills,  and  terminals  are  situated  on  the  same  side. 
The  width  of  the  river  at  Wilmington  is  500  to  1,000  feet. 
Four  miles  below,  it  becomes  1  1-2  miles  wide,  and  is  of  the 
nature  of  a  tidal  estuary,  varying  in  width  from  1  to  3  miles. 
The  distance  from  Wilmington  to  the  ocean  is  30  miles. 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  9 

Below  Wilmington. 
The  improvement  of  the  river  was  begun  by  the  State  of 
ISTorth  Carolina  between  Wilmington  and  Big  Island  by  em- 
bankments, jetties,  and  dredging,  in  1822,  and  continued 
until  1829,  when  the  Federal  Government  undertook  the 
work  of  improvement,  and  continued  it  to  1839.  Work  was 
resumed  in  1847  and  continued  up  to  the  War  between  the 
States.  It  was  again  resumed  in  1870  and  has  been  carried 
on  continuously  since  that  date. 

The  condition  of  the  river  prior  to  the  opening  of  New 
Inlet  (which  occurred  during  an  equinoctial  storm  in  1761) 
is  rather  uncertain,  but  old  maps  indicate  that  there  was  a 
low-water  depth  of  14  feet  across  the  bar  at  the  mouth,  the 
least  depth  between  Wilmington  and  the  mouth  being  7.5 
feet.  There  is  also  some  uncertainty  as  to  the  conditions  in 
1829,  when  the  improvement  was  undertaken  by  the  United 
States,  but  the  most  reliable  information  is  that  there  was 
then  about  7  to  7.5  feet  at  low  water  in  the  river,  about  9 
feet  in  Baldhead  channel,  9  feet  in  the  Rip  channel,  and  10 
feet  at  New  Inlet.  Work  on  the  bar  was  begun  in  1853,  at 
which  time  the  bar  depths  at  low  water  were  7.5  feet  in  Bald- 
head  channel,  7  feet  in  Rip  channel,  and  8  feet  at  New  Inlet, 
the  governing  low-water  depths  in  the  river  having  been  in- 
creased to  9  feet. 

The  original  project  of  1827  was  to  deepen  by  jetties  the 
channel  through  the  shoals  in  the  8  miles  next  below  Wil- 
mington. This  project  resulted  in  a  gain  of  2  feet  available 
depth.  The  project  of  1853  was  to  straighten  and  deepen 
the  bar  channel  by  dredging,  jettying,  diverting  the  flow  from 
the  New  Inlet  and  closing  breaches  in  Zekes  Island.  This 
project  was  incomplete  when  the  War  between  the  States 
began.  Up  to  that  time,  $363,228.92  had  been  spent  on  the 
improvement. 

After  the  war  the  first  project  was  that  of  1870,  to  deepen 
the  bar  channel  by  closing  breaches  between  Smiths  and 
Zekes  Islands,  with  the  ultimate  closure  of  New  Inlet  in 
view.     The  project  of  1873  included  that  of  1870  and  in 


10  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

addition  the  dredging  of  the  bar  channel  and  the  closing  of 
New  Inlet.  The  project  of  1874  was  to  obtain  bv  dredging  a 
channel  100  feet  wide  and  12  feet  deep  at  low  water  up  to 
Wilmington.  The  project  of  1881  was  to  obtain  by  dredging 
a  channel  270  feet  wide  and  IG  feet  deep  at  low  water  up  to 
Wilmington.  These  projects  had  been  praeticallj  completed 
in  1889.  At  that  time  the  expenditure  since  the  war 
amounted  to  $2,102,271.93. 

The  project  adopted  September  19,  1890,  was  to  obtain  a 
mean  low-water  depth  of  20  feet  and  a  width  of  270  feet  from 
Wilmington  to  the  ocean.  This  project  has  been  modified 
several  times,  the  latest  modification  being  that  of  July  25, 
1912,  which  provides  for  a  mean  low-water  channel  26  feet 
deep,  300  feet  wide  in  the  river,  and  400  feet  wide  across 
the  ocean  bar.  Work  is  now  progressing  on  this  project  and 
to  June  30,  1913,  there  had  been  spent  on  it  $2,906,900.27, 
exclusive  of  receipts  from  sales  and  rents.  To  complete  this 
project  in  1915  and  maintain  it  until  completion,  as  esti- 
mated June  30,  1913,  will  cost  $748,767.80,  of  which  $508,- 
767.80  was  on  hand  June  30,  1913. 

The  cost  of  the  improvement  of  the  river  by  the  United 
States  Government  to  June  30,  1913,  was  $5,372,401.12, 
the  expenditure  of  which  has  resulted  in  increasing  the  avail- 
able mean  low  water  channel  depth  from  7  feet  to  26  feet. 
At  present  there  is  a  26-foot  mean  low-water  channel  from 
Wilmington  to  the  ocean,  varying  in  width  from  100  to  400 
feet. 

The  various  projects  adopted  by  the  Federal  Government 
involved  the  closing  of  Xew  Inlet,  and  the  construction  of  a 
defensive  dike  from  Zekes  Island,  on  the  south  side  of  New 
Inlet,  to  Smiths  Island.  The  dam  closing  New  Inlet  was 
constructed  between  1875  and  1881,  and  is  5,300  feet  long. 
It  is  built  of  stone,  its  first  cost  being  $540,237.11.  It  was 
badly  damaged  by  a  stoi-m  in  1906,  and  the  cost  of  its  restora- 
tion and  of  other  minor  repairs  made  since  its  completion  was 
$103,044.75,  making  its  total  cost  to  date  $643,281.86. 
Swash  Defense  dam,  south  of  New  Inlet,  was  constructed 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  11 

between  1883  and  1889,  and  is  12,800  feet  long.  It  is  also 
built  of  stone,  the  first  cost  being  $225,965.  The  cost  of 
restoring  tliis  dam  after  the  storm  of  1906,  including  other 
repairs  made  since  its  completion,  was  $170,109.53,  making 
the  total  cost  to  date  $396,074.53.  With  the  exception  of 
the  construction  of  these  two  dams,  the  results  have  been 
accomplished  almost  wholly  by  dredging. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  in  this  connection  that  the  total 
expenditures  of  the  Federal  Government  upon  Charleston  bar 
and  harbor  to  the  present  time  are  $5,047,016,  and  the  total 
expenditures  on  Cape  Fear  Eiver  at  and  below  Wilmington 
to  the  present  time  are  $5,881,168.92. 

N'ORTHEAST    CaPE   FeAR   RiVEB. 

Northeast  Cape  Fear  River  enters  Cape  Fear  River  from 
the  east  at  Wilmington.  It  has  a  total  length  of  130  miles 
(70  miles  in  a  straight  line)  and  has  been  under  improve- 
ment since  1890,  the  project  including  the  clearing  of  the 
natural  channel  for  small  steamers  to  Hallsville,  88  miles 
above  its  mouth,  and  for  pole  boats  to  Kornegay's  Bridge, 
103  miles  above  its  mouth. 

The  work  has  consisted  in  removing  snags  and  other  inci- 
dental obstructions  from  the  channel  and  leaning  trees  from 
the  banks.  For  several  years  past,  work  has  been  for  the 
purpose  of  maintenance  only.  To  June  30,  1913,  there 
had  been  spent  on  this  stream  for  improvement  and  main- 
tenance $33,738.86.  At  present  8  feet  can  be  carried  to 
Rocky  Point  Landing,  35  miles  from  the  mouth,  5  feet  to 
Smith's  Bridge,  52  miles  up,  and  3  feet  to  Croom's  Bridge, 
8  miles  further, — at  all  stages.  Above  that  point  it  is  only 
navigable  during  freshets. 

Black  Rivee. 
Black  River  is  tributary  to  Cape  Fear  River,  entering  it 
from  the  east  about  14  miles  above  Wilmington.  This 
stream  has  been  under  improvement  since  1887.  The  origi- 
nal project  of  1885  included  clearing  the  natural  channel 
and  banks  to  Lisbon,  and  cutting  off  a  few  points  at  bends. 


12  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

modified  in  1893,  and  omitting  the  part  above  Clear  Run,  66 
miles  above  the  mouth.  This  was  completed  in  1895.  Since 
that  time  it  has  been  under  maintenance.  The  total  amount 
expended  to  June  30,  1913,  for  improvement  and  main- 
tenance was  $32,877.26.  The  work  has  consisted  in  remov- 
ing obstructions  from  the  channel  and  leaning  trees  from  the 
banks,  and  in  a  small  amount  of  dredging. 

At  present  a  depth  of  5  feet  can  be  carried  to  Point  Cas- 
well at  low  stages,  above  which  point  there  is  but  little  navi- 
gation excepting  during  freshet  stages. 

Town  Creek. 

Town  Creek  is  a  tributary  to  Cape  Fear  Eiver,  entering 
it  from  the  west  about  7  1-2  miles  below  Wilmington.  It  is 
not  now  under  improvement,  but  was  placed  under  improve- 
ment in  1881,  the  project  being  to  obtain  4-feet  navigation 
at  low  water  by  removing  obstructions  from  the  mouth  to 
Saw  Pitt  Landing,  20  miles  above.  After  spending  $1,000, 
this  project  was  abandoned.  An  appropriation  of  $8,500 
was  made  in  1899  to  be  expended  in  obtaining  a  mean  low- 
water  channel  5  feet  deep  and  40  feet  wide  to  Russell's 
Landing,  19  3-4  miles  above  the  mouth,  and  to  clear  the 
creek  to  Rocks  Landing,  about  4  miles  farther  up.  The  5-foot 
channel  was  obtained  to  Russell's  Landing  by  dredging, 
and  snags  were  removed  from  the  channel  for  the  next  mile 
above,  when  the  funds  were  exhausted,  and  no  further  appro- 
priation has  been  made. 

Brunswick  River. 

About  four  miles  above  Wilmington,  the  Cape  Fear  River 
divides,  the  western  branch  forming  Brunswick  River.  It 
flows  in  a  southerly  direction  and  again  enters  the  Cape  Fear 
River  about  four  miles  below  Wilmington.  Its  total  length 
is  8  miles. 

This  river  has  never  been  under  improvement,  but  the 
River  and  Harbor  Act  of  June  13,  1902,  provides  for  the 
expenditure  of  not  exceeding  $1,000  of  the  money  appro- 
priated for  the  improvement  of  Cape  Fear  River,   at  and 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  13 

"below  Wilmington,  in  removing  obstructions  at  the  lower 
mouth  of  Brunswick  River.  Obstructions  were  removed 
from  a  width  of  100  feet  during  1903  at  a  cost  of  $519, 
securing  a  channel  at  its  mouth  100  feet  wide  and  7  feet 
deep.^ 

According  to  the  recitals  in  the  oldest  deeds  for  lands  on 
Eagles  Island  and  in  its  vicinity  on  either  side,  the  North- 
east and  the  Northwest  branches  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 
came  together  at  the  southern  point  of  that  island.  What  is 
now  called  Brunswick  River  on  the  west  side  of  the  island 
was  then  the  main  river ;  and  Wilmington  was  on  the  North- 
east branch,  and  not  on  the  main  stream  of  the  Cape  Fear. 
That  portion  of  the  river  which  runs  from  the  Northeast 
branch  by  Point  Peter,  or  Negrohead  Point,  as  it  is  called,  to 
the  Northwest  branch  at  the  head  of  Eagles  Island,  is  called 
in  the  old  deeds  and  statutes  of  the  State  "the  thoroughfare," 
and  sometimes  the  "cut  through"  from  one  branch  to  the 
other;  and  the  land  granted  to  John  Maultsby,  on  which  a 
part  of  Wilmington  is  situated,  is  described  as  lying  opposite 
to  the  mouth  of  the  "thoroughfare."  At  another  time, 
what  is  now  known  as  Brunswick  River  was  called  "Claren- 
don" River. 

THE  CAPE  FEAR  INDIANS. 

The  tribal  identity  of  the  Cape  Fear  Indians  has  never 
been  clearly  established.  We  find  Indian  mounds,  or  tumuli, 
along  the  river  and  coast,  and  in  the  midland  counties,  and 
we  are  told  that  the  head  waters  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  were 
known  to  our  aborigines  as  "Sapona,"  a  tribal  name  also 
known  farther  north,  and  that  "King"  Roger  Moore  extermi- 
nated these  Indians  at  Big  Sugar  Loaf  after  they  had  raided 
Orton ;  but  there  is  nothing  in  the  mounds,  where  hundreds 
of  skeletons  are  found,  nor  in  the  pottery  and  rude  imple- 
ments discovered  therein,  to  identify  the  tribe  or  prove  the 
comparatively  unsupported  statements  which  we  have  hith- 

iThe  foregoing  technical  information  is  from  the  reports  of  the 
U.  S.  Corps  of  Engineers,  by  the  courtesy  of  Major  Stickle. 


14  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

erto  accepted  as  facts.  Capt.  S.  A.  Ashe  says:  "The  Cape 
Fear  Indians  along  the  coast  were  Southern.  The  Saponas 
who  resided  higher  up  were  probably  Xorthem.  They  were 
not  exterminated  by  "King"  Roger;  in  fact,  in  1790  there 
were  still  some  in  Granville,  and  a  considerable  number  joined 
the  Tuscaroras  on  the  Tuscarora  Reservation  on  the  Roanoke. 
They  were  both  Xorthem,  probably,  otherwise  the  Saponas 
would  not  have  been  welcome." 

There  is  reason  to  believe  the  tradition,  generally  known 
to  our  older  inhabitants,  that  the  Indians  from  the  back 
country  came  regularly  in  the  early  springtime  to  the  coast 
of  the  Cape  Fear  for  the  seawater  fish  and  oysters  which 
were  abundant,  and  that  their  preparation  for  these  feasts 
included  the  copious  drinking  of  a  strong  decoction  of  yopon 
leaves,  which  produced  free  vomiting  and  purgation,  before 
they  gorged  themselves  to  repletion  with  the  fish  and  oysters. 

The  beautiful  evergreen  leaf  and  brilliant  red  berries  of 
the  yopon  still  abound  along  the  river  banks  near  the  re- 
mains of  the  Indian  camps.  The  leaves  were  extensively 
used  as  a  substitute  for  tea,  which  was  unobtainable  during 
our  four  years'  war,  and  the  tea  made  from  them  was  re- 
freshing and  tonic  in  its  effects.  The  leaves  indicate  by 
analysis  about  two  per  cent  caffeine. 

Dr.  Curtis,  an  eminent  botanist  of  North  Carolina,  says: 
"Yopon  I.  Cassine,  Linn.  An  elegant  shrub  ten  to  fiiteen 
feet  high,  but  sometimes  rising  to  twenty  or  twenty-five  feet. 
Its  nativ^e  place  is  near  the  water  (salt),  from  Virginia 
southward,  but  never  far  in  the  interior.  Its  dark  green 
leaves  and  bright  red  berries  make  it  very  ornamental  in 
yards  and  shrubberies.  The  leaves  are  small,  one-half  to 
one  inch  long,  very  smooth  and  evenly  scalloped  on  the 
edges,  with  small  rounded  teeth.  In  some  sections  of  the 
lower  district,  especially  in  the  region  of  the  Dismal  Swamp, 
these  are  annually  dried  and  used  for  tea,  which  is,  however, 
oppressively  soporific  —  at  least  for  one  not  accustomed 
to  it." 

Our  yopon    (the  above),   is   the  article  from  which  the 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  15 

famous  Black  Drink  of  the  Southern  Indians  was  made.  At 
a  certain  time  of  the  year  they  came  down  in  droves  from  a 
distance  of  some  hundred  miles  to  the  coast  for  the  leaves 
of  this  tree.  Thej  made  a  fire  on  the  ground,  and  putting 
a  great  kettle  of  water  on  it,  they  threw  in  a  large  quantity 
of  these  leaves^  and  setting  themselves  around  the  fire,  from  a 
bowl  holding  aboiut  a  pint,  they  began  drinking  large 
draughts,  which  in  a  short  time  occasioned  them  to  vomit 
easily  and  freely.  Thus  they  continued  drinking  and  vomit- 
ing for  a  space  of  two  or  three  days,  until  they  had  suf- 
ficiently cleansed  themselves,  and  then,  every  one  taking  a 
bundle  of  the  leaves,  they  all  retired  to  their  habitations. 

It  is  with  no  small  satisfaction  that  I  have  obtained  by  the 
courtesy  of  such  eminent  authority  as  that  of  Mr.  David  I. 
Bushnell,  jr.,  of  the  Bureau  of  American  Ethnology,  who 
is  now  in  Wilmington  for  investigations  on  the  vanished  race, 
the  following  paper,  which  he  has  kindly  prepared  for  this 
volume. 

I  also  include  a  paper  by  Capt.  S.  A.  Ashe,  and  Dr. 
Joseph  A.  Holmes's  report  upon  his  personal  investigations 
of  the  mounds  in  Duplin;  and  Mr.  Bushnell  has  quoted 
from  Mr.  W.  B.  McKoy's  valuable  contributions  on  the  same 
subject. 

NOTES  OI^T  THE  ARCHEOLOGY  OF  NEW  HAN- 
OVER COUNTY. 

In  reference  to  the  Woccon,  Saxapahaw,  Cape  Fear,  and 
Warrennuncock  Indians,  we  find  it  stated:  "Of  the  North 
Carolina  tribes  bearing  the  foregoing  names  almost  nothing 
is  known,  and  of  the  last  two  even  the  proper  names  have 
not  been  recorded.  The  Woccon  were  Siouan;  the  Saxa- 
pahaw and  Cape  Fear  Indians  presumably  were  Siouan,  as 
indicated  from  their  associations  and  alliance  with  known 
Siouan  tribes ;  while  the  Warrennuncock  were  probably 
some  people  better  knoiwn  under  another  name,  although  they 
cannot  be  identified."-^     Unfortunately  the  identity  of  the 

iMooney,  James.  The  Siouan  Tribes  of  the  East.  Bulletin  Bu- 
reau of  Ethnology,  Washington,  1894,  p.  65. 


16  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Cape  Fear  Indians  has  not  been  revealed,  and  it  may  ever 
remain  a  mystery.  The  name  was  first  bestowed,  by  the 
early  colonists,  upon  the  Indians  whom  they  found  occupying 
the  lands  about  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  and  more 
especially  the  peninsula  now  forming  the  southern  part  of 
New  Hanover  County.  It  is  aJso  possible  the  term  "Cape 
Fear  Indians"  was  applied  to  any  Indians  found  in  the 
vicinity,  regardless  of  their  tribal  connections,  and,  as  will 
be  shown  later,  the  area  was  frequented  by  numbers  of  dif- 
ferent tribes.  Although  the  native  people  were  often  men- 
tioned in  early  writings,  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  Indian 
population  of  the  peninsula  ever  exceeded  a  few  hundred. 

Evidently  Indians  continued  to  occupy  the  lower  part  of 
the  peninsula  until  about  the  year  1725,  at  which  time, 
according  to  a  well-substantiated  tradition,  they  were  driven 
from  the  section.  "Roger  Moore,  because  of  his  wealth  and 
large  number  of  slaves,  was  called  King  Roger.  There  is  a 
tradition  on  the  Cape  Fear  that  he  and  his  slaves  had  a  battle 
with  the  Indians  at  the  Sugar  Loaf,  nearly  opposite  the  town 
of  Brunsuack.  Governor  Tryon,  forty  years  later,  mentions 
that  the  last  battle  with  the  Indians  was  when  driving  them 
from  the  Cape  Fear  in  1725.  The  tradition  would  seem  to 
be  well  founded."! 

At  the  present  time,  nearly  two  centuries  after  the  expul- 
sion of  the  last  Indian  inhabitants  from  the  peninsula,  we 
find  many  traces  of  their  early  occupancy  of  the  area. 
Oysters,  and  other  mollusks  as  well,  served  as  important 
articles  of  food,  and  vast  quantities  of  shells,  intermingled 
with  numerous  fragments  of  pottery  of  Indian  make,  are  en- 
countered along  the  mainland,  facing  the  sounds.  These 
masses  of  shells  do  not  necessarily  indicate  the  sites  of  vil- 
lages, or  of  permanent  settlements,  but  rather  of  places  vis- 
ited at  different  times  by  various  families  or  persons  for  the 
purpose  of  gathering  oysters,  clams,  etc.  The  majority  of 
these  were  probably  consumed  on  the  spot,  while  others,  fol- 
lowing the  custom  of  the  more  northern  tribes,  may  have 

lAshe,  S.  A.  History  of  North  Carolina.  Greensboro,  1908.  Vol. 
1,  p.  213. 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  17 

been  dried  in  the  smoke  of  the  wigwam  and  thus  preserved 
for  future  use. 

The  many  small  pieces  of  pottery  found,  mingled  with  the 
shells,  are  pieces  of  vessels,  probably  cooking  utensils,  of  the 
Indians.  Many  pieces  bear  on  their  outer  or  convex  sur- 
faces, the  imprint  of  twisted  cords ;  other  fragments  show  the 
impressions  of  basketry.  In  a  paper  read  before  the  His- 
torical and  Scientific  Society,  June  3,  1878,  Mr.  W.  B. 
McKoy  described  this  stage  of  pottery-making,  after  the 
clay  had  been  properly  prepared:  ''The  mortar  is  then 
pressed  by  the  hand  on  the  inside  of  a  hastily  constructed 
basket  of  wickerwork  and  allowed  to  dry  for  a  while;  the 
basket  is  then  inverted  over  a  large  fire  of  pitch  pine  and 
the  pot  is  gradually  hardened  and  blackened  by  the  smoke, 
having  the  appearance  of  a  thick  iron  pot.  By  constant  use 
afterwards  the  particles  of  carbon  that  have  entered  the  pores 
of  the  clay  are  burnt  out  and  then  the  pot  has  a  red  appear- 
ance."^ Fragments  occur  upon  which  the  designs  are  char- 
acteristic of  pottery  from  the  interior  and  farther  south; 
other  pieces  are  undoubtedly  the  work  of  the  southern  Algon- 
quin tribes.  Within  a  radius  of  about  one  hundred  miles 
were  tribes  of  the  Algonquin,  Siouan,  and  Iroquoian  stocks. 
Small  parties  of  the  different  tribes  were  ever  moving  from 
place  to  place,  and  it  is  within  reason  to  suppose  that  mem- 
bers of  the  various  tribes,  from  time  to  time,  visited  the 
Cape  Fear  peninsula;  thus  explaining  the  presence  of  the 
variety  of  pottery  discovered  among  the  shell-heaps  on  the 
shore  of  the  sound. 

The  most  interesting  village  site  yet  examined  is  located 
about  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  Myrtle  So.und,  three 
miles  north  of  the  ruins  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  less  than  one 
hundred  yards  from  the  sea  beach.  Three  small  shell- 
mounds  are  standing  near  the  center  of  the  area.  The  larg- 
est is  about  thirty  inches  in  height  and  twenty  feet  in  diame- 
ter. Quantities  of  pottery  are  scattered  about  on  the  sur- 
face,  and  a  few  pieces  of  stone  are  to  be  found.     Sugar 


LPublislied  in  the  Daily  Review,  Wilmington,  July  6,  1878. 


18  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Loaf,  the  scene  of  the  last  encounter  with  the  Indians,  in 
1725,  is  less  than  one  mile  from  this  site  in  a  northwesterly 
direction.  Here,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  three  shell  mounds, 
was  probably  the  last  Indian  settlement  on  the  peninsula. 

A  level  area  of  several  acres  at  the  end  of  Myrtle  Sound 
was  likewise  occupied  by  a  settlement,  and  fragments  of 
pottery  are  very  plentiful,  these  being  intermingled  with 
quantities  of  oyster  and  clamshells  scattered  over  the  sur- 
face. Many  pieces  of  the  earthenware  from  this  site  are 
unusually  heavy  and  arc  probably  parts  of  large  cooking 
vessels. 

Northward  along  the  Sound  are  other  places  of  equal  in- 
terest, some  having  the  appearance  of  having  been  occupied 
during  comparatively  recent  years.  This  may  be  judged 
from  the  condition  of  the  shells  and  the  weathering  of  the 
pottery.  Other  remains  may  date  from  a  much  earlier 
period;  but  all  represent  the  work  of  the  one  people,  the 
Indians,  who  had  occupied  the  country  for  centuries  before 
the  coming  of  the  Europeans. 

On  both  sides  of  Ilewlets  Creek,  near  its  mouth,  are 
numerous  signs  of  Indian  occupancy.  On  the  north  side, 
in  the  rear  of  the  old  McKoy  house,  are  traces  of  an  extensive 
camp,  and  many  objects  of  Indian  origin  are  said  to  have 
been  found  here  during  past  years.  On  the  opposite  side  of 
the  creek  is  a  large  shell-heap  in  which  fragments  of  pottery 
occur.  Several  miles  northward,  on  the  left  bank  of  Barren 
Inlet  Creek,  about  one-half  mile  from  the  Sound,  are  signs 
of  a  large  settlement.  Here  an  area  of  four  or  five  acres  is 
strewn  with  pottery.  This  was  probably  the  site  of  a  per- 
manent village  as  distinguished  from  the  more  temporary 
camps  met  with  on  the  shore  of  the  Sound. 

A  careful  examination  of  various  sites  existing  on  the 
peninsula  would  be  of  the  greatest  interest.  The  burial 
places  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  the  country  would  un- 
doubtedly be  discovered,  and  this  would  assist  in  the  identifi- 
cation of  the  people  who  bore  the  name  "Cape  Fear  Indians," 
all  traces  of  whom  are  so  rapidly  disappearing. 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  19 

THE  IISTDIAIT  MOUl^DS  OF  THE  CAPE  FEAE. 

By  Prop.  J.  A.  Holmes. 

(W'ilmington,  N.  C.  Weekly  Star,  Oct.  26,  1883.  Reprinted  Journal  Elisha  Mitchell 
Scientific  Society  1883-4,  pages  73  to  79) . 

So  far  as  is  known  to  me,  no  account  of  tlie  Indian  burial 
mounds  which  are  to  be  found  in  portions  of  eastern  North 
Carolina,  has,  as  yet,  been  published.  This  fact  is  consid- 
ered a  sufficient  reason  for  the  publication  of  the  following 
notes  concerning  a  few  of  these  mounds  which  have  been 
examined  in  Duplin  and  a  few  other  counties  in  the  region 
under  consideration. 

It  is  expected  that  the  examination  of  other  mounds  will 
be  carried  on  during  the  present  year,  and  it  is  considered 
advisable  to  postpone  generalized  statements  concerning  them 
until  these  additional  examinations  have  been  completed.  It 
may  be  stated,  however,  of  the  monnds  that  have  been  ex- 
amined already,  that  they  are  quite  different  from  those  of 
Caldwell  and  other  counties  of  the  western  section  of  the 
State,  and  of  much  less  interest  so  far  as  contents  are  con- 
cerned. As  will  be  seen  from  the  following  notes,  they  are 
usually  low,  rarely  rising  to  more  than  three  feet  above  the 
surrounding  surface,  with  circular  bases,  varying  in  diame- 
ter from  15  to  40  feet;  and  they  contain  little  more  than  the 
bones  of  human  (presimiably,  Indian)  skeletons,  arranged 
in  no  special  order.  They  have  been  generally  built  on 
somewhat  elevated,  dry,  sandy  places,  out  of  a  soil  similar 
to  that  by  which  they  are  surrounded.  No  evidence  of  an 
excavation  below  the  general  surface  has  as  yet  been  observed. 
In  the  process  of  burial,  the  bones  or  bodies  seem  to  have  been 
laid  on  the  surface,  or  above,  and  covered  up  with  soil  taken 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  mound.  In  every  case  that  has 
come  under  my  own  observation  charcoal  has  been  fonnd  at 
the  bottom  of  the  mound. 

Mound  No.  1. — Duplin  County,  located  at  Kenansville, 
about  one-half  mile  southwest  from  the  courthouse,  on  a 
somewhat  elevated,  dry,  sandy  ridge.     In  form,  its  base  is 


20  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

nearly  circular,  35  feet  in  diameter;  height  3  feet.  The 
soil  of  the  mound  is  like  that  which  surrounds  it,  with  no 
evidence  of  stratification.  The  excavation  was  made  by  be- 
ginning on  one  side  of  the  mound  and  cutting  a  trench  35 
feet  long,  and  to  a  depth  nearly  2  feet  below  the  general  sur- 
face of  the  soil  (5  feet  below  top  of  mound),  and  removing 
all  the  soil  of  the  mound  by  cutting  new  trenches  and  filling 
up  the  old  ones.  In  this  way  all  the  soil  of  the  mound,  and 
for  two  feet  below  its  base,  was  carefully  examined.  The 
soil  below  the  base  of  the  mound  did  not  appear  to  have  been 
disturbed  at  the  time  the  mound  was  built.  The  contents 
of  the  mound  included  fragments  of  charcoal,  a  few  small 
fragments  of  pottery,  a  handful  of  small  shells,  and  parts 
of  sixty  human  skeletons.  No  implements  of  any  kind  were 
found.  Small  pieces  of  charcoal  were  scattered  about  in 
different  portions  of  the  mound,  but  the  larger  portion  of  the 
charcoal  was  found  at  one  place,  3  or  4  feet  square,  near  one 
side  of  the  mound.  At  this  place  the  soil  was  colored  dark 
and  seemed  to  be  mixed  with  ashes.  There  were  here  with 
the  charcoal  fragments  of  bones,  some  of  which  were  dark 
colored,  and  may  have  been  burned ;  but  they  were  so  nearly 
decomposed  that  I  was  unable  to  satisfy  myself  as  to  this 
point.  I  could  detect  no  evidence  of  burning,  in  case  of  the 
bones,  in  other  portions  of  the  mound.  Fragments  of  pot- 
tery were  few  in  number,  small  in  size,  and  scattered  about 
in  different  parts  of  the  mound.  They  were  generally 
scratched  and  cross-scratched  on  one  side,  but  no  definite 
figures  could  be  made  out.  The  shell  "beads"  were  small 
in  size — 10  to  12  mm.  in  length.  They  are  the  Marginella 
roscida  of  Redfield,  a  small  gasteropod,  which  is  said  to  be 
now  living  along  the  coasts  of  this  State.  The  specimens, 
about  75  in  number,  were  all  found  together,  lying  in  a 
bunch  near  the  skull  and  breast  bones  of  a  skeleton.  The 
apex  of  each  one  had  been  ground  off  obliquely  so  as  to  leave 
an  opening  passing  through  the  shell  from  the  apex  to  the 
anterior  canal — probably  for  the  purpose  of  stringing  them. 
The  skeletons  of  this  mound  were  generally  much  softened 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  21 

from  decay — many  of  the  harder  bones  falling  to  pieces  on 
being  handled,  while  many  of  the  smaller  and  softer  bones 
were  beyond  recognition.  They  were  distributed  through 
nearly  every  portion  of  the  moimd,  from  side  to  side,  and 
from  the  base  to  the  top  surface,  without,  so  far  as  was 
discovered,  any  definite  order  as  to  their  arrangement.  ISTone 
were  found  below  the  level  of  the  surface  of  the  soil  outside 
the  mound.  In  a  few  cases  the  skeletons  occurred  singly, 
with  no  others  within  several  feet ;  while  in  other  cases,  sev- 
eral were  found  in  actual  contact  with  one  another;  and  in 
one  portion  of  the  mound,  near  the  outer  edge,  as  many  as 
twenty-one  skeletons  were  found  placed  within  the  space  of 
six  feet  square.  Here,  in  the  case  last  mentioned,  several 
of  the  skeletons  lay  side  by  side,  others  on  top  of  these, 
parallel  to  them,  while  still  others  lay  on  top  of  and  across 
the  first.  When  one  skeleton  was  located  above  another,  in 
some  cases,  the  two  were  in  actual  contact ;  in  other  cases, 
they  were  separated  by  a  foot  or  more  of  soil. 

As  to  the  position  of  the  parts  of  the  individual  skeletons, 
this  could  not  be  fully  settled  in  the  present  case  on  account 
of  the  decayed  condition  of  many  of  the  bones.  The  follow- 
ing arrangement  of  the  parts,  however,  was  found  to  be  true 
of  nearly  every  skeleton  exhumed.  The  bones  lay  in  a 
horizontal  position,  or  nearly  so..  Those  of  the  lower  limbs 
were  bent  upon  themselves  at  the  knee,  so  that  the  thigh 
bone  (femur)  and  the  bones  of  the  leg  (tibia  and  fibula)  lay 
parallel  to  one  another,  the  bones  of  the  foot  and  ankle  being 
found  with  or  near  the  hip  bones.  The  knee  cap,  or  patella, 
generally  lying  at  its  proper  place,  indicated  that  there  must 
have  been  very  little  disturbance  of  the  majority  of  the  skele- 
tons after  their  burial.  The  bones  of  the  upper  limbs  also 
were  seemingly  bent  upon  themselves  at  the  elbow;  those  of 
the  forearm  (humerus)  generally  lying  quite  or  nearly  side 
by  side  with  the  bones  of  the  thigh  and  leg;  the  elbow  joint 
pointing  toward  the  hip  bones,  while  the  bones  of  the  two 
arms  below  the  elbow  joint  (radius  and  ulna)  were  in  many 
cases  crossed,  as  it  were,  in  front  of  the  body.     The  ribs  and 


22 


CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 


vertebrae  lay  along  by  the  side  of,  on  top  of,  and  between 
the  bones  of  the  upper  and  lower  limbs,  generally  too  far 
decayed  to  indicate  their  proper  order  or  position.  The 
skulls  generally  lay  directly  above  or  near  the  hip  bones,  in 
a  variety  of  positions ;  in  some  cases  the  side,  right  or  left, 
while  in  other  cases  the  top  of  the  skull,  the  base,  or  the 
front,  was  downward. 

But  two  of  the  crania  (A  and  B  of  the  following  table) 
obtained  from  this  mound  were  sufficiently  well  preserved 
for  measurement;  and  both  of  these,  as  shown  by  the  teeth, 
are  skulls  of  adults.  C  of  this  table  is  the  skull  of  an  adult 
taken  from  mound  No.  2,  below. 


Crania. 

Length. 

Breadth. 

Height. 

Index  of 
Breadth. 

Index  of 
Height. 

Facial 
Angle. 

A 
B 
C 

193  mm. 
172  mm. 
180  mm. 

151  mm. 
133  mm. 
137  mm. 

144  mm. 
136  mm. 
147  mm. 

.746 
.772 
.761 

.746 
.790 
,816 

74* 
66" 
63* 

The  skeletons  were  too  much  decomposed  to  permit  the  dis- 
tinguishing of  the  sexes  of  the  individuals  to  whom  they  be- 
longed; but  the  size  of  the  crania  (adults)  and  other  bones 
seem  to  indicate  that  a  portion  of  the  skeletons  were  those  of 
women.  One  small  cranium  foimd  was  evidently  that  of  a 
child — the  second  and  third  pair  of  incisor  teeth  appearing 
beyond  the  gums. 

Mound  JSTo.  2. — Located  1  3-4  miles  east  of  Hallsville,  Du- 
plin County,  on  a  somewhat  elevated,  dry,  sandy  region. 
Base  of  mound  nearly  circular,  22  feet  in  diameter ;  height, 
3  feet,  surface  rounded  over  the  top.  Soil  similar  to  that 
which  surrounds  the  mound — light  sandy.  Excavations  of 
one-half  of  the  mound  exposed  portions  of  eight  skeletons, 
fragments  of  charcoal  and  pottery,  arranged  in  much  the  same 
way  as  described  above  in  case  of  mound  No.  1.  The  bones 
being  badly  decomposed,  and  the  mound  being  thoroughly 
penetrated  by  the  roots  of  trees  growing  over  it,  the  excava- 
tion was  stopped.  No  implements  or  weapons  of  any  kind 
were  found.     There  was  no  evidence  of  any  excavation  hav- 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  23 

ing  been  made  below  the  general  surface,  in  the  building  of 
the  mound,  but  rather  evidence  to  the  contrary.  The  third 
cranium  (C)  of  the  above  table  was  taken  from  this  mound. 
Mound  No.  3. — Located  in  a  dry,  sandy,  and  rather  ele- 
vated place  about  one-third  of  a  mile  east  of  Hallsville,  Dup- 
lin County.  In  size  and  shape  this  mound  resembles  those 
already  mentioned:  Base  circular,  31  feet  in  diameter; 
height  2  1-2  feet.  No  excavation  was  made,  other  than  what 
was  sufficient  to  ascertain  that  the  mound  contained  bones  of 
human  skeletons. 

Mound  No.  4. — Duplin  County,  located  in  a  rather  level, 
sandy  region,  about  one  mile  from  Sarecta  P.  C,  on  the 
property  of  Branch  Williams.  Base  of  mound  circular,  35 
feet  in  diameter ;  height  2  1-2  feet.  Soil  sandy,  like  that 
which  surrounds  it.  Around  the  mound,  extending  out  for  a 
distance  varying  from  5  to  10  yards,  there  was  a  depression, 
which,  in  addition  to  the  similarity  of  soils  mentioned  above, 
affords  ground  for  the  conjecture  that  here,  as  in  a  number 
of  other  cases,  it  is  probable  the  mound  was  built  by  the 
throwing  on  of  soil  from  its  immediate  vicinity.  Only  a 
partial  excavation  was  made,  with  the  result  of  finding 
human  bones,  and  a  few  small  fragments  of  charcoal  and 
pottery. 

Since  the  above  mounds  were  visited,  I  have  obtained  in- 
formation as  to  the  localities  of  mounds,  similar  to  those 
described,  in  the  eastern,  southern,  and  western  portions  of 
Duplin  County;  and  I  can  hardly  doubt  but  that  a  closer 
examination  of  this  region  will  prove  them  to  be  more  nu- 
merous than  they  are  now  generally  supposed  to  be. 

In  Sampson  County,  the  localities  of  several  mounds  have 
been  noted;  only  one  of  these,  however,  so  far  as  I  am  in- 
formed, has  been  examined  with  care.  This  one  (Mound 
No.  5),  examined  by  Messrs.  Phillips  and  Murphy  of  the 
Clinton  School,  is  located  about  2  1-2  miles  west  of  Clinton 
(Sampson  County),  on  the  eastern  exposure  of  a  small  hill. 
In  general  character  it  resembles  the  mounds  already  de- 
scribed.    Base  circular,  40  feet  in  diameter ;  height  3  1-2 


24  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

feet;  soil  sandy  loam,  resembling  that  surrounding  the 
mound.  Contents  consisted  of  small  fragments  of  charcoal, 
two  bunches  of  small  shell  "beads,"  and  parts  of  16  human 
skeletons.  These  skeletons  were  not  distributed  uniformly 
throughout  the  portion  of  the  mound  examined.  At  one 
place  there  were  9,  at  another  G,  and  at  a  third  5  skeletons, 
lying  close  to,  and  in  some  cases  on  top  of,  one  another. 
In  this  point  as  in  the  position  of  the  parts  of  the  skeletons 
("doubled-up")  this  mound  resembles  those  described  above. 
The  bones  were  generally  soft  from  decay.  The  small  shells 
were  found  in  bunches  under  two  skulls;  they  are  of  the 
same  kind  (Marginella  roscida,  Redfield)  as  those  from 
Mound  Xo.  1,  and  their  ends  were  ground  off  in  the  same 
way.  No  bones  were  found  below  the  surface  level,  and 
there  was  no  evidence  of  excavations  having  been  made  below 
this  point.  No  stone  implements  of  any  kind  were  found 
in  the  mound.     One-half  of  this  mound  was  examined. 

In  Kobeson  and  Cumberland  Counties  several  mounds 
have  been  examined;  and  for  information  concerning  these, 
I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Hamilton  McMillan. 

Five  mounds  are  reported  as  having  been  examined  in 
Robeson  County,  averaging  60  feet  in  circumference,  and  2 
feet  high,  all  located  on  elevated,  dry  ridges,  near  swamps, 
or  water-courses ;  and  all  contained  bones  of  human  skeletons. 
One  of  these  mounds,  located  about  two  miles  east  of  Red 
Springs,  examined  by  Mr.  McMillan,  in  1882,  contained 
about  50  skeletons.  Many  of  these  bones  near  the  surface  of 
the  mound,  in  Mr.  McMillan's  opinion,  had  been  partly 
burned — those  nearer  the  bottom  were  in  a  better  state  of 
preservation.  There  was  an  "entire  absence  of  skulls  and 
teeth"  from  this  mound — a  somewhat  remarkable  fact.  A 
broken  stone  "celt"  was  found  among  the  remains ;  but  with 
this  one  unimportant  exception,  no  mention  has  been  made 
of  implements  having  been  found. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  Mr.  D.  Sinclair,  of  Plain  View, 
Robeson  County,  has  informed  me  that  he  has  seen  four 
mounds  in  the  southern  portion  of  this  county — two  near 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  25 

Brooklyn  P.  O.,  and  two  between  Leesville  and  Fair  Bluff, 
about  five  miles  from  the  latter  place. 

In  Cumberland  County,  two  mounds  are  reported  by  Mr. 
McMillan  as  having  been  examined.  One  of  these,  located 
about  ten  miles  south  of  Fayetteville,  was  found  to  contain 
the  crumbled  bones  of  a  single  person,  lying  in  an  east  and 
west  direction.  There  was  also  found  in  this  mound  a  frag- 
ment of  rock  rich  in  silver  ore.  The  other  mound,  located  ten 
miles  southwest  from  Fayetteville,  near  Eockfish  Creek,  was 
examined  by  Mr.  McMillan  in  1860,  and  found  to  contain 
a  large  number  of  skeletons,  *  *  *  bones  were  well 
preserved  and,  without  exception,  those  of  adults."  The 
mound  was  located  on  a  high,  sandy  ridge,  its  base  about  20 
feet  in  diameter ;  height  2  1-2  feet. 

In  Wake  County  one  mound  has  been  reported  as  being 
located  on  the  northeast  and  several  on  the  southwest  side 
of  the  Neuse  Kiver,  about  seven  miles  east  from  Raleigh; 
and  from  the  former  it  is  stated  that  a  large  number  of  stone 
implements  have  been  removed.  But  I  have  been  unable  to 
examine  these  or  to  obtain  any  definite  information  concern- 
ing them.  One  mound  in  this  county,  examined  in  1882  by 
Mr.  W.  S.  Primrose,  of  Raleigh,  is  worthy  of  mention  in  this 
connection,  as  it  resembles  in  general  character  the  mounds 
of  Duplin  County.  This  mound  is  located  about  ten  miles 
south  of  Raleigh,  on  a  small  plateau  covered  with  an  origi- 
nal growth  of  pines.  Base  of  mound  circular,  about  14  feet 
in  diameter ;  height  2  feet.  The  contents  of  the  mound  con- 
sisted of  small  fragments  of  charcoal,  and  the  bones  of  10  or 
12  human  skeletons,  much  decayed,  and  arranged,  so  far  as 
could  be  determined,  without  any  reference  to  order  or 
regularity.  No  weapons  or  implements  of  any  kind  were 
found. 


26  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

THE  INDIANS  OF  THE  LOWER  CAPE  FEAR. 

Br  S.  A.  Ashe. 

The  Indians  along  the  Pamlico  and  Albemarle  were  of 
Northern  origin ;  those  on  the  Cape  Fear  were  of  Southern 
origin.  The  Yamassees,  who  originally  lived  along  the 
coast  east  of  Savannah,  were  driven  back  into  Georgia  soon 
after  the  settlement.  The  Indians  dwelling  on  the  Santee, 
the  Pee  Dee,  and  their  branches,  seem  to  have  been  different 
from  the  Yamassees,  and  offshoots  from  one  tribe  or  nation 
— the  Old  Cheraws.  There  was  an  Indian  tradition  that 
before  the  coming  of  the  Englishmen  the  principal  body  of 
that  tribe,  called  Cheraw-  (or  Chero-)  kees,  after  a  long  fight 
with  the  Catawbas,  removed  to  the  mountains ;  but  the  minor 
offshoots,  along  the  rivers  of  South  Carolina,  were  not  dis- 
turbed. 

When  the  Cape  Fear  Indians  were  at  war  with  the  settlers 
at  Old  Town,  the  Indians  along  the  southern  Carolina  coast 
knew  of  it,  but  did  not  take  up  arms  against  the  English,  and 
were  very  friendly  with  those  who,  along  with  Sandford, 
visited  them  in  1665.  The  Indians  on  the  lower  Cape  Fear 
are  said  to  have  been  Congarees,  a  branch  of  the  Old 
Cheraws.  Soon  after  the  settlement,  they  were  driven  away. 
In  1731,  Dr.  Bricknell,  who  made  an  extended  journey  to  the 
western  part  of  North  Carolina  in  an  embassy  to  the  Indians 
in  the  mountains,  in  his  Natural  History  of  North  Caro- 
lina, said:  "The  Saponas  live  on  the  west  branch  of  the 
Cape  Fear  River;  the  Toteros  are  neighbors  to  them;  the 
Keyawees  live  on  a  branch  that  lies  to  the  Northwest." 

Two  or  three  years  later,  Governor  Burrington  mentioned 
that  the  small  tribes  that  had  resided  near  the  settlements  had 
entirely  disappeared;  and  in  1733,  he  also  mentioned  the  fact 
that  "some  South  Carolina  grants  had  been  located  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Waccamaw  River,  on  lands  formerly  occu- 
pied by  the  Congarees." 

The  ending  "ee"  signifies,  perhaps,  "river."     It  is  sur- 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  27 

mised  that  the  true  name  of  Liimher  River  was  Lumhee.  An- 
other termination  was  "aw" — ^Wax-haw,  Saxapahaw,  Cheraw, 
Burghaw.  The  Burghaw  Indians  occupied  what  we  call 
Burgaw. 


THE  FIEST  ATTEMPTED  SETTLEMENT, 
CHARLESTOWK 

The  first  trading  on  the  Cape  Fear  River  of  which  we 
have  any  record  was  bj  a  party  of  adventurers  from  Massa- 
chusetts in  the  year  1660. 

The  Historian  Bryant  says:  "There  were  probably  few 
bays  or  rivers  along  the  coast,  from  the  Bay  of  Fundy  to 
Florida,  unexplored  by  the  E"ew  Englanders,  where  there 
was  any  promise  of  profitable  trade  with  the  Indians.  The 
colonist  followed  the  trader  wherever  unclaimed  lands  were 
open  to  occupation.  These  energetic  pioneers  explored  the 
sounds  and  rivers  south  of  Virginia  in  pursuit  of  Indian 
traffic,  and  contrasted  the  salubrity  of  the  climate  and  the 
fertility  of  the  soil  with  that  region  of  rocks  where  they 
made  their  homes,  and  where  winter  reigns  for  more  than 
half  the  year.  In  1660  or  1661,  a  company  of  these  men 
purchased  of  the  natives  and  settled  upon  a  tract  of  land  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  River.  Their  first  purpose  was 
apparently  the  raising  of  stock,  as  the  country  seemed  pecu- 
liarly fitted  to  grazing,  and  they  brought  a  number  of  neat 
cattle  and  swine  to  be  allowed  to  feed  at  large  under  the 
care  of  herdsmen.  But  they  aimed  at  something  more  than 
this  nomadic  occupation,  and  a  company  was  formed  in 
which  a  number  of  adventurers  in  London  were  enlisted,  to 
found  a  permanent  colony." 

The  most  authentic  account  of  the  first  settlement  on  the 
river  states  that  about  the  time  the  New  Englanders  ex- 
plored that  region,  John  Vassall  and  others  at  Barbadoes, 
purposing  to  make  a  settlement  on  the  coast  of  Virginia, 
sent  out  Captain  William  Hilton  in  his  ship,  the  Adven- 
turer, to  explore  the  Cape  Fear;  and  he  made  a  favorable 


28  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

report.  Soon  afterwards,  the  New  England  colonists  ar- 
rived, but  learning  of  Hilton's  visit,  thought  it  best  not  to 
make  a  settlement  at  that  time;  so  thej  turned  loose  their 
cattle  on  the  island  and  left  a  paper  in  a  box  stating  that  it 
was  a  bad  place  for  a  settlement.  Because  of  this,  Vassall 
again  sent  Hilton  and  with  him  Anthony  Long  and  Peter 
Fabian  to  make  a  more  thorough  examination. 

On  Monday,  October  12,  1668,  the  Adventurer  came  to 
anchor  a  second  time  in  what  they  called  "The  Cape  Fear 
Roads,"  and  then  the  explorers  proceeded  to  examine  the 
lands  along  the  river.  Their  "main  river"  was  our  "North- 
east." They  called  the  northwest  branch,  the  Hilton,  and 
the  "Cut-off"  the  Green.  They  ascended  both  branches 
about  seventy-five  miles,  and  were  much  pleased.  Along 
the  main  river,  they  named  Turkey  Quarter,  Rocky  Point 
and  Stag  Park,  names  that  have  been  perpetuated  to  this 
day. 

While  these  explorations  were  being  made,  the  King 
granted  the  whole  country  south  of  Virginia  to  the  Lords 
Proprietors,  and  the  promoters  of  the  proposed  colony,  both 
in  New  England  and  in  Barbadoes,  applied  to  the  Lords 
Proprietors  for  terms  of  settlement.  These  gentlemen 
sought  to  foster  the  enterprise,  and  in  compliment  to  the 
King  named  the  river,  the  Charles,  and  the  town  to  be 
built,  Charlestown,  and  the  region  they  called  Clarendon 
County.  Eventually,  the  New  England  Association,  John 
Vassall  and  his  friends  at  Barbadoes,  and  Henry  Vassall  and 
the  other  London  merchants  who  were  to  supply  the  colony, 
were  all  brought  into  a  common  enterprise ;  and  on  May  24, 
1664,  the  first  settlers  disembarked  at  the  junction  of  the 
river  and  Town  Creek,  about  20  miles  from  the  bar.  These 
were  followed  by  accessions  from  New  England  and  Bar- 
badoes until  the  number  of  colonists  reached  six  hundred. 
John  Vassall  was  appointed  the  surveyor  and  was  the  chief 
man  in  the  colony,  being  the  leading  promoter  of  the  enter- 
prise, while  Henry  Vassall  managed  affairs  at  London. 
The   Proprietors,    however,    selected    as    governor   the    man 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  29 

they  thought  of  greatest  influence  at  Barbadoes,  Colonel 
John  Yeamans;  and  the  King,  to  show  his  favor  to  the 
colony,  conferred  on  Yeamans  the  honor  of  knighthood,  and 
he  also  made  a  gift  to  the  colony  of  cannon  and  munitions 
for  defense.  In  November,  1665,  Sir  John  reached  the 
colony,  and  shortly  thereafter  the  first  assembly  was  held  on 
the  Cape  Fear.  There  was  already  a  war  with  the  Indians, 
arising,  according  to  some  accounts,  from  the  bad  faith  of 
the  Massachusetts  men  who  had  sold  into  slavery  some 
Indian  children,  as  well  as  the  Indians  they  were  able  to  take 
prisoners.  There  was  also  dissatisfaction  with  the  regula- 
tions of  the  Proprietors,  and  especially  because  the  colonists 
were  not  allowed  to  elect  their  o^vn  governor,  as  the  people 
of  Massachusetts  did.  Sir  John  soon  left  the  colony  and 
returned  to  Barbadoes;  and  as  some  of  the  Proprietors  had 
died,  and,  England  being  at  war  with  Holland,  the  others 
were  too  busy  to  attend  to  the  affairs  of  the  infant  colony,  for 
more  than  a  year  Vassall's  appeals  to  the  Proprietors  re- 
ceived no  answer.  The  settlers  becoming  disheartened, 
Vassall  did  all  he  could  to  satisfy  them,  but  they  felt  cut  off 
and  abandoned.  After  they  had  found  a  way  to  reach  Albe- 
marle and  Virginia  by  land,  he  could  no  longer  hold  them. 
On  October  6,  1667,  Vassall  wrote  from  Nansemond,  Vir- 
ginia, a  touching  account  of  the  failure  of  the  colony. 


30  CAPE  FEAR  CnRONICLES 

REPORT  OF  COMMISSIONERS  SENT  FROM  BAR- 

BADOES  TO  EXPLORE  THE  RIVER  CAPE 

FEAR  IN  1GG3. 

(Lawson's  History  of  North  Carolina,  p.  113.) 

From  Tuesday,  the  29th  of  September,  to  Friday,  the 
2nd  of  October,  we  ranged  along  the  shore  from  lat.  32  deg. 
20  min.  to  lat.  33  deg.  11  min.,  but  could  discern  no  entrance 
for  our  ship,  after  we  had  passed  to  the  northward  of  32 
deg.  40  min.  On  Saturday,  October  3,  a  violent  storm  over- 
took us,  the  wind  being  north  and  east;  which  easterly 
winds  and  foul  weather  continued  till  Monday,  the  12th ;  by 
reason  of  which  storms  and  foul  weather  we  were  forced 
to  get  off  to  sea,  to  secure  ourselves  and  ship,  and  were  driven 
by  the  rapidity  of  a  strong  current  to  Cape  Hatteras,  in  lat. 
35  deg.  30  min.  On  Monday,  the  12th,  aforesaid,  we  came 
to  an  anchor  in  seven  fathoms  at  Cape  Fair  Road,  and  took 
the  meridian  altitude  of  the  sun,  and  were  in  lat.  33  deg.  43 
min,,  the  wind  still  continuing  easterly,  and  foul  weather 
till  Thursday,  the  15th;  and  on  Friday,  the  16th,  the  wind 
being  N.W.,  we  weighed  and  sailed  up  Cape  Fair  River 
some  four  or  five  leagues,  and  came  to  an  anchor  in  six 
or  seven  fathom,  at  which  time  several  Indians  came  on 
board  and  brought  us  great  store  of  fresh  fish,  large  mullets, 
young  bass,  shads,  and  several  other  sorts  of  very  good,  well- 
tasted  fish.  On  Saturday,  the  17th,  we  went  down  to  the 
Cape  to  see  the  English  cattle,  but  could  not  find  them, 
though  we  rounded  the  Cape,  and  having  an  Indian  guide 
with  us.  Here  we  rode  tiU  October  24th.  The  wind  being 
against  us,  we  could  not  go  up  the  river  with  our  ship;  but 
went  on  shore  and  viewed  the  land  of  those  quarters. 

On  Saturday  we  weighed  and  sailed  up  the  river  some 
four  leagues  or  thereabouts. 

Sunday,  the  25th,  we  weighed  again  and  rowed  up  the 
river,  it  being  calm,  and  got  up  some  fourteen  leagues  from 
the  harbor's  mouth,  where  we  moored  our  ship. 

On  Monday,  October  26th,  we  went  down  with  the  yawl 
to  Necoes,  an  Indian  plantation,  and  viewed  the  land  there. 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  31 

On  Tuesday,  the  27tli,  we  rowed  up  the  main  river  with  our 
long  hoat  and  twelve  men,  some  ten  leagues  or  thereabouts. 

On  Wednesday,  the  28th,  we  rowed  up  about  eight  or  ten 
leagues  more. 

Thursday,  the  29th,  was  foul  weather,  with  much  rain 
and  wind,  which  forced  us  to  make  huts  and  lie  still. 

Friday,  the  30th,  we  proceeded  up  the  main  river  seven  or 
eight  leagues. 

Saturday,  the  31st,  we  got  up  three  or  four  leagues  more, 
and  came  to  a  tree  that  lay  across  the  river ;  but  because  our 
provisions  were  almost  spent,  we  proceeded  no  further,  but 
returned  downward  before  night;  and  on  Monday,  the  2nd 
of  November,  we  came  aboard  our  ship. 

Tuesday,  the  3rd,  we  lay  still  to  refresh  ourselves. 

On  Wednesday,  the  4th,  we  went  five  or  six  leagues  up 
the  river  to  search  a  branch  that  run  out  of  the  main  river 
toward  the  northwest.  In  which  we  went  up  five  or  six 
leagues ;  but  not  liking  the  land,  returned  on  board  that  night 
about  midnight,  and  called  that  place.  Swampy  Branch. 

Thursday,  !N"ovember  5th,  we  stayed  aboard. 

On  Friday,  the  6th,  we  went  up  Green's  River,  the  mouth 
of  it  being  against  the  place  at  which  rode  our  ship. 

On  Saturday,  the  Yth,  we  proceeded  up  the  said  river, 
some  fourteen  or  fifteen  leagues  in  all,  and  found  it  ended 
in  several  small  branches.  The  land,  for  the  most  part,  be- 
ing marshy  and  swamps,  we  returned  towards  our  ship,  and 
got  aboard  it  in  the  night. 

Sunday,  ^N'ovember  the  8th,  we  lay  still ;  and  on  Monday, 
the  9th,  went  again  up  the  main  river,  being  well  stocked 
with  provisions  and  all  things  necessary,  and  proceeded  up- 
ward till  Thursday  noon,  the  12th,  at  which  time  we  came 
to  a  place  where  were  two  islands  in  the  middle  of  the  river; 
and  by  reason  of  the  crookedness  of  the  river  at  that  place, 
several  trees  lay  across  both  branches,  which  stopped  the 
passage  of  each  branch,  so  that  we  could  proceed  no  further 
with  our  boat;  but  went  up  the  river  by  land  some  three  or 
four  miles,  and  found  the  river  wider  and  wider.     So  we 


32  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

returned,  leaving  it  as  far  as  we  could  see  up,  a  long  reach 
running  N.E.,  we  judging  ourselves  near  fifty  leagues  north 
from  the  river's  mouth. 


We  saw  mulberry  trees,  multitudes  of  grapevines,  and 
some  grapes,  which  we  eat  of.  We  found  a  very  large  and 
good  tract  of  land  on  the  N.W.  side  of  the  river,  thin  of 
timber,  except  here  and  there  a  very  great  oak,  and  full  of 
grass,  commonly  as  high  as  a  man's  middle,  and  in  many 
places  to  his  shoulders,  where  we  saw  many  deer  and  turkeys ; 
one  deer  having  very  large  horns  and  great  body,  therefore 
called  it  Stag-Park. 

It  being  a  very  pleasant  and  delightful  place,  we  traveled 
in  it  several  miles,  but  saw  no  end  thereof.  So  we  returned 
to  our  boat,  and  proceeded  down  the  river,  and  came  to 
another  place,  some  twenty-five  leagues  from  the  river's 
mouth  on  the  same  side,  where  we  found  a  place  no  less  de- 
lightful than  the  former ;  and,  as  far  as  we  could  judge,  both 
tracts  came  into  one.  This  lower  place  we  called  Eocky 
Point,  because  we  found  many  rocks  and  stones  of  several 
sizes  upon  the  land,  which  is  not  common.  We  sent  our  boat 
down  the  river  before  us,  ourselves  traveling  by  land  many 
miles.  Indeed  we  were  so  much  taken  with  the  pleasantness 
of  the  country,  that  we  traveled  into  the  woods  too  far  to 
recover  our  boat  and  company  that  night. 

The  next  day,  being  Sunday,  we  got  to  our  boat;  and  on 
Monday,  the  16th  of  November,  proceeded  down  to  a  place 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  some  twenty-three  leagues  from 
the  harbour's  mouth,  which  we  called  Turkey  Quarters,  be- 
cause we  killed  several  turkeys  thereabouts.  We  viewed  the 
land  there  and  found  some  tracts  of  good  ground,  and  high, 
facing  upon  the  river  about  one  mile  inward ;  but  backward, 
some  two  miles,  all  pine  land,  but  good  pasture-ground. 

We  returned  to  our  boat  and  proceeded  down  some  two  or 
three  leagues,  where  we  had  formerly  viewed,  and  found  it  a 
tract  of  as  good  laud  as  any  we  have  seen,  and  had  as  good 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  33 

timber  on  it.    The  banks  on  the  river  being  high,  therefore  we 
called  it  High  Land  Point. 

Having  viewed  that  we  proceeded  down  the  river,  going  on 
shore  in  several  places  on  both  sides,  it  being  generally  large 
marshes,  and  many  of  them  dry,  that  they  may  more  fitly  be 
called  meadows.  The  woodland  against  them  is,  for  the  most 
part  pine,  and  in  some  places  as  barren  as  ever  we  saw  land, 
but  in  other  places  good  pasture  ground. 

On  Tuesday,  November  the  I7th,  we  got  aboard  our  ship, 
riding  against  the  mouth  of  Green's  Eiver,  where  our  men 
were  providing  wood,  and  fitting  the  ship  for  sea.  In  the 
interim  we  took  a  view  of  the  country  on  both  sides  of  the 
river  there,  finding  some  good  land,  but  more  bad,  and  the 
best  not  comparable  to  that  above. 

Friday  the  20th  was  foul  weather;  yet  in  the  afternoon  we 
weighed,  went  down  the  river  about  two  leagues,  and  came 
to  an  anchor  against  the  mouth  of  Hilton's  Eiver,  and  took 
a  view  of  the  land  there  on  both  sides  which  appeared  to  us 
much  like  that  at  Green's  River. 

Monday,  the  23d,  we  went  with  our  long-boat,  well  vic- 
tualed and  manned,  up  Hilton's  Eiver;  and  when  we  came 
three  leagues  or  thereabouts  up  the  same,  we  found  this  and 
Green's  Eiver  to  come  into  one,  and  so  continued  for  four  or 
five  leagues,  which  makes  a  great  island  betwixt  them.  We 
proceeded  still  up  the  river  till  they  parted  again;  keeping 
up  Hilton's  Eiver,  on  the  larboard  side,  and  followed  the 
said  river  five  or  six  leagues  further,  where  we  found  another 
large  branch  of  Green's  Eiver,  to  come  into  Hilton's  which 
makes  another  great  island.  On  the  starboard  side  going  up, 
we  proceeded  still  up  the  river,  some  four  leagues,  and  re- 
turned, taking  a  view  of  the  land  on  both  sides,  and  then 
judged  ourselves  to  be  from  our  ship  some  eighteen  leagues 
W.  by  X. 

******* 

Proceeding  down  the  river  two  or  three  leagues  further, 
we  came  to  a  place  where  there  were  nine  or  ten  canoes  all 
together.     We  went  ashore  there  and  found  several  Indians, 


34  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

but  most  of  them  were  the  same  which  had  made  peace  with 
us  before.  We  stayed  very  little  at  that  place  but  went  di- 
rectly down  the  river,  and  came  to  our  ship  before  day. 

Thursday,  the  26th  of  November,  the  wind  being  at  south, 
we  could  not  go  down  to  the  river's  mouth ;  but  on  Friday  the 
27th  we  weighed  at  the  mouth  of  Hilton's  River,  and  got 
down  a  league  towards  the  harbor's  mouth. 

On  Sunday,  the  29th,  we  got  down  to  Crane  Island,  which 
is  four  leagues,  or  thereabouts,  above  the  entrance  of  the 
harbor's  mouth.  On  Tuesday,  the  1st  of  December,  we 
made  a  purchase  of  the  river  and  land  of  Cape  Fair,  of  Wat 
Coosa,  and  such  other  Indians  as  appeared  to  us  to  be  the 
chief  of  those  parts.  They  brought  us  store  of  fresh  fish 
aboard,  as  mullets,  shads,  and  other  sorts,  very  good. 

There  was  a  writing  left  in  a  post,  at  the  point  of  Cape 
Fair  River,  by  those  New  England  men  that  left  cattle  with 
the  Indians  there,  the  contents  whereof  tended  not  only  to  the 
disparagement  of  the  land  about  the  said  river,  but  also  to  the 
great  discouragement  of  all  such  as  should  hereafter  come 
into  those  parts  to  settle.  In  answer  to  that  scandalous  writ- 
ing, we,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  do  affirm,  that  we 
have  seen,  facing  both  sides  of  the  river  and  branches  of  Cape 
Fair  aforesaid,  as  good  land  and  as  well  timbered  as  any 
we  have  seen  in  any  other  part  of  the  world,  sufficient  to  ac- 
commodate thousands  of  our  English  nation,  and  lying  com- 
modiously  by  the  said  river's  side.  On  Friday,  the  4th  of 
December,  the  wind  being  fair,  we  put  to  sea,  boimd  for 
Barbadoes ;  and  on  the  6th  of  February,  1663-4,  came  to  an 
anchor  in  Carlisle  Bay — it  having  pleased  God,  after  several 
apparent  dangers  both  by  sea  and  land,  to  bring  us  all  in 
safety  to  our  long-wished  for  and  much-desired  port,  to  ren- 
der an  account  of  our  discovery,  the  verity  of  which  we  do 
assert.  Anthony  Long. 

William  Hilton. 
Petee  Fabian. 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  35 

SANTORD'S  ACCOUNT  OF  CONDITIONS  IN 
CHARLES  RIVER. 

(Colonial  Records,  Vol.  I,  p.  120.) 

The  Right  Honoble  the  Lords  Proprietors  of  the  Province 
of  Carolina  in  proseciicon  of  his  sacred  Ma"*^  pio.us  intencons 
of  planting  and  civillizing  there  his  domin^  and  people  of 
Northeme  America,  w'^^  Neighbour  Southward  on  Virginia 
(bj  some  called  Florida)  found  out  and  discovered  by  S"" 
Sebastian  Cabott  in  the  year  1497  at  the  charges  of  H:  7: 
King  of  England  co.)  constituted  S"".  John  Yeamans  Baronet 
their  L*  Generall  with  ample  powers  for  placing  a  Colony  in 
some  of  the  Rivers  to  the  Southward  and  Westward  of  Cape 
S*'  Romania  who  departing  from  the  Island  Barbadoes  in 
Octob:  1665  in  a  Fly  boate  of  about  150  Tonus  accompanyed 
by  a  small  Friggatt  of  his  owne  and  a  Sloope  purchased  by  a 
Comon  purse  for  the  service  of  the  Colonyes  after  they  had 
been  separated  by  a  gTeat  storme  att  Sea  (wherein  the 
Friggatt  lost  all  her  Mast  and  himselfe  had  like  to  have 
foundred  and  were  all  brought  together  againe  in  the  begin- 
ning of  November  to  an  Anchor  before  the  mouth  of  Charles 
River  neere  Cape  Feare  in  the  County  of  Clarendon,  part 
of  the  same  Province  newly  begunn  to  be  peopled  and  within 
the  L*  Gen"^  Commission.  They  were  after  blowne  from 
their  Anchors  by  a  suddaine  violent  Gust,  the  Fly  boate  S*" 
John  was  in  narrowly  escapeing  the  dangerous  shoales  of  the 
Cape.  But  this  proved  but  a  short  difference  in  their  Fate, 
for  returning  with  a  favorable  winde  to  a  second  viewe  of  the 
entrance  into  Charles  River  but  destituted  of  all  pilates  (save 
their  owne  eyes  which  the  flattering  Gale  that  conducted 
them  did  alsoe  delude  by  covering  the  rough  visage  of  their 
objected  dangers  with  a  thicke  vaile  of  smoth  waters)  they 
stranded  their  vessell  on  the  middle  ground  of  the  harbours 
mouth  to  the  Westward  of  the  Channell  where  the  Ebbe 
presently  left  her  and  the  wind  with  its  owne  multeplyed 
forces  and  the  auxiliaryes  of  the  tide  of  flood  beate  her  to 


86  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

peeces.  The  persons  were  all  saved  by  the  neighborhood  of 
the  shore  but  the  greatest  part  of  their  provision  of  victualla 
clothes  &c :  and  of  the  Magazine  of  Armes  powder  and  other 
Military  furniture  shipped  by  the  Lords  Proprietors  for  the 
defence  of  the  designed  settlement  perished  in  the  waters 
the  L'  Gen"  purposed  at  first  immediately  to  repaire  his 
Friggatt  which  together  with  the  Sloop  gate  safely  into  the 
River  when  the  Fly  boate  was  driven  off)  and  to  send  her 
back  to  Barbados  for  security  whilst  himself  in  person  at- 
tended the  issue  of  that  discovery  which  I  and  some  other 
Gentlemen  offered  to  make  Southwards  in  the  Sloope,  But 
when  the  great  and  growing  necessityes  of  the  English 
Colony  in  Charles  River  (heightened  by  this  disaster)  begann 
clamorously  to  crave  the  use  of  the  Sloope  in  a  voyage  to 
Virginia  for  their  speedy  reliefe,  S""  John  altered  that  his 
first  resolution  and  permitting  the  sloope  to  goe  to  Virginia 
returned  himself  to  Barbados  in  his  Friggatt.  Yett  that 
the  designe  of  the  Southern  Settlement  might  not  wholy  fall, 
Hee  considered  with  the  freighters  of  the  sloope  that  in  case 
she  miscarryed  in  her  Virginia  voyage  they  should  hire 
Captain  Edward  Stanyons  vessell  (then  in  there  harbour  but 
bound  for  Barbadoes)  to  performe  the  Discovery  and  left  a 
commission  with  mee  for  the  effecting  it  upon  the  returne  of 
the  Sloope  or  Stanion  which  should  first  happen. 

The  sloope  in  her  comeing  home  from  Virginia  loaded  with 
victualls  being  ready  by  reason  of  her  extreme  rottenness  in 
her  timbers  to  Sinke  was  driven  on  shoare  by  a  storme  in 
the  night  on  Cape  looke  out  (the  next  head  land  to  the  north 
and  Eastward  of  Cape  Feare  and  about  20  Le:  distant  her 
men  all  saved  except  two  and  with  many  difficulties  brought 
by  their  boate  through  the  great  Sound  into  Albemarle 
River  neare  the  Island  Roanoke  (within  this  same  Province 
of  Carolina,  to  the  English  Plantation  there — 

Captain  Stanyon  in  returning  from  Babados  weakly  maned 
and  without  any  second  to  himselfe  driven  to  and  agen  on  the 
seas  for  many  weekes  by  contrary  winds  and  conquered  with 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  37 

care,  vexation  and  watching  lost  his  reason,  and  after  many 
wild  extravagances  leapt  over  board  in  a  frenzje  leaveing 
his  small  Company  and  vessell  (to  the  much  more  quiet  and 
constant  though  but  little  knowing  and  prudent  conduct  of  a 
child,  who  yett  assisted  by  a  miraculous  providence  after 
many  wanderings  brought  her  safe  to  Charles  River  in 
Clarendon  her  desire  port  and  haven.     *     *     * 

[Then  Sandford  gives  an  account  of  his  voyage  along  the 
coast  of  southern  Carolina,  the  following  extract  being  of 
interest.] 

Indeed  all  along  I  observed  a  kind  of  emulation  amongst 
the  three  principall  Indians  of  the  Country  (vizt:)  those  of 
Keywaha  Eddistowe  and  Port  Eoyall  concerning  us  and  our 
Friendshipp  each  contending  to  assure  it  to  themselves  and 
jealous  of  the  other  though  all  be  allyed  and  this  notwith- 
standing that  they  knew  wee  were  in  actuall  warre  with  the 
natives  att  Clarendon  and  had  killed  and  sent  away  many 
of  them  For  they  frequently  discoursed  with  us  concerning 
the  warre,  told  us  that  the  Natives  were  noughts,  the  land 
sandy  and  barren,  their  Country  sickly,  but  if  wee  would 
come  amongst  them  wee  should  finde  the  contrary  to  all  their 
evills,  and  never  any  accasion  of  dischargeing  our  gunns  but 
in  merryment  and  for  pastime. 

******* 

Robt:  Sandfoed. 

Massachusetts  Sending  Some  Relief. 

(Hutchinson's  History  of  Massachusetts,  page  238.) 

In  1667  the  people  at  Cape  Fear  being  under  distressing 
circumstances,  a  general  contribution  by  order  of  court  was 
made  through  the  colony  for  their  relief.  Although  this  was 
a  colony  subject  to  the  proprietary  government  of  Lord 
Clarendon  and  others,  yet  the  foundation  was  laid  about  the 
time  of  the  Restoration  by  adventurers  from  New  England 
who  supposed  they  had  a  right  to  the  soil  as  first  occupants 
and  purchasers  from  the  natives,  and,  issuing  from  Massa- 
chusetts, to  the  same  civil  privileges;  but  they  were  disap- 
pointed as  to  both. 


38  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

THE  END  OF  CHARLESTOWN. 
John  Vassall  to  Sir  John  Colleton. 

(P.  p.  R.  O.  Shaftesbury  Papers.  Bdle.  48.  No.  8.) 

Nancymond  in  Virginny  6th  October  1667. 
Honnorable  Sir, 

I  presume  you  have  heard  of  the  unhapy  Loss  of  our 
Phintation  on  Charles  River  the  reason  of  which  I  could 
never  soe  well  have  understood  had  I  not  com  hither  to  heare ; 
how  that  all  that  came  from  us  made  it  their  business  soe  to 
exclaime  against  the  Country  as  they  had  rendered  it  unfitt 
for  a  Christian  habitation;  which  hindered  the  coming  of 
the  people  &  supplys  to  us  soe  as  the  rude  Rable  of  our 
Inhabitants  ware  dayly  redy  to  mutany  against  mee  for 
keeping  them  there  soe  long;  insomuch  that  after  they  had 
found  a  way  to  com  hither  by  land  all  the  arguments  and 
authority  I  could  use  wold  noe  longer  prevail  which  inforced 
mee  to  stop  the  first  ship  that  came  till  I  could  send  for  more 
shipping  to  carry  us  all  away  togeather  espetially  such  weak 
persons  as  ware  not  able  to  goe  by  land  the  charge  and  trouble 
whereof  and  the  loss  of  my  Estate  there  having  soe  ruened 
mee  as  I  am  not  well  able  to  settle  myself  heare  or  in  any 
other  place  to  live  comfortably.  But  had  it  pleased  God  to 
bring  my  Cauzen  vassall  safe  hither  wee  had  bin  yett  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  I  sent  one  Whiticar  last  November 
on  purpose  at  my  owne  charge  to  give  the  Lords  an  account 
of  our  condition  but  hee  was  taken  by  the  way  soe  as  I  have 
not  heard  a  word  from  any  of  you  since  I  receaved  my  Com- 
missions by  Mr.  Sanford  and  indeed  we  ware  as  a  poore 
Company  of  deserted  people  little  regarded  by  any  others  and 
noe  way  able  to  supply  ourselves  with  clothing  and  neces- 
saries nor  any  number  considerable  to  defend  ourselves  from 
the  Indians  all  which  was  occationed  by  the  hard  termes  of 
your  Consetions  which  made  our  friends  that  sett  us  out  from 
Barbadoes  to  forsake  us,  soe  as  they  would  neither  suply  us 
with  necessaries  nor  find  shipping  to  fetch  us  away,  yet  had 
wee  had  but  200£  sent  us  in  Clothinc;  wee  had  made  a  com- 


EXPLORATION  AND  SETTLEMENT  39 

fortable  shift  for  annother  jeare,  and  I  offered  to  stay  there 
if  but  twenty  men  would  stay  with  mee  till  wee  had  heard 
from  your  Lordships,  for  wee  had  corne  enough  for  two 
yeares  for  a  farr  greater  number  and  tho'  the  Indians  had 
killed  our  Cattle  yett  wee  might  have  defended  ourselves  but 
I  could  not  find  6.  men  that  wold  be  true  to  me  to  stay :  soe 
was  constrained  to  leave  it  to  my  gTeate  loss  &  ruin,  and  I 
fear  you  will  not  have  a  much  better  account  of  your  planta- 
tion at  Eoanoke  unless  a  better  course  be  taken  to  incorage 
their  stay  for  they  are  not  without  greate  cause  of  complaints. 
This  with  my  vei-y  humble  servis  presented  is  all  at  pres- 
ent From  Your  honnors  humble  servant 

John  Vassall 
To  the  Honorable  Sir  John  Coliton 
Knight  and  Barronett  at  Nerehald 
These  present 
In  Essex. 

Samuel  Mavekicke  to  Sec.  L^  Arlington. 

(P.  p.  R.  O.  Shaftesbury  Papers,  Vol.  XXI,  134.) 

The  plantations  at  Cape  Feare  are  deserted,  the  inhabi- 
tants have  since  come  hither,  some  to  Virginia. 

Yo  most  obliged 
humble  Servant 
Boston  Samuell  Mavericke 

Oct.  16,  1667. 


CAPE  FEAR  PIRATES  OF  1719. 

After  the  departure  of  the  colonists  from  Charlestown  in 
1667  Clarendon  County  again  became  a  solitude.  A  few 
years  later  a  new  Charlestovm  was  begun  further  south,  and 
in  its  management,  Sir  John  Yeamans  proved  himself  a  wise 
and  efficient  Governor,  and  a  meritorious  and  beneficent 
administrator. 

There  was  a  wide  breadth  of  wilderness  between  the  set- 
tlements in  North  and  South  Carolina,  and  before  1725  it 
was  not  determined  to  which  province  the  Cape  Fear  River 


40  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

belonged.  About  1692  Landgrave  Smith  located  a  grant  of 
48,000  acres  on  that  river,  and  other  South  Carolina  grants 
were  located  near  the  confluence  of  its  two  branches ;  but 
there  was  no  permanent  settlement  made.  One  Lockwood, 
from  Barbadoes,  however,  made  a  settlement  farther  to  the 
south,  which  the  Indians  destroyed,  and  hence  the  name  to 
this  day  of  "Lockwood's  Folly." 

The  solitude  remained  unbroken  until  in  1719,  when  Steed 
Bonnet,  an  infamous  pirate,  established  himself  within  the 
harbor  and  made  such  depredations  on  the  commerce  of 
Charleston  that  Colonel  Rhett  organized  an  expedition  against 
him.  A  notable  battle  took  place  near  where  Southport 
now  stands,  ending  in  the  destruction  of  Bonnet's  vessel  and 
the  capture  of  many  of  the  pirates.  Two  days  later  other 
pirate  vessels  were  taken  at  sea,  and  more  than  a  hundred 
pirates  were  hanged  at  one  time  on  the  wharv^cs  of  Charles- 
ton. It  is  supposed  that  some  of  Bonnet's  men  escaped  and 
made  their  way  up  the  river,  eventually  amalgamating  with 
a  small  tribe  of  Indians  on  the  Lumber  River,  where,  soon 
after  the  settlement  of  the  Cape  Fear,  in  1725,  a  considerable 
number  of  English-speaking  people  were  found. 


Permanent  Settlement 

THE  TOWN"  OF  BRUNSWICK. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1712,  was  commissioned  the  first 
Governor  of  the  Province  of  ISTorth  Carolina,  separate  and 
distinct  from  the  Province  of  South  Carolina. 

In  the  year  1711  a  horrible  massacre  of  the  colonists  in 
Albemarle  occurred,  vs^hich  was  characterized  by  such  fiend- 
ish cruelty  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  led  principally  by 
Tuscaroras,  that  the  colony  on  the  jSTeuse  and  Pamlico  was 
blighted  for  years  and  well-nigh  destroyed.  One  hundred 
and  thirty  persons  were  butchered  in  two  hours  under  the 
most  appalling  circumstances.  Women  were  laid  upon  the 
house  floors  and  great  stakes  driven  through  their  bodies; 
other  atrocities  were  committed  too  frightful  to  think  of, 
and  more  than  eighty  unbaptized  infants  were  dashed  to 
pieces  against  trees.  Although  it  appears  that  there  were 
occasional  difficulties  with  the  Indians  during  the  early  set- 
tlements, this  seems  to  have  been  the  first  general  uprising 
in  the  Province.  It  led  to  the  Tuscarora  War,  which  would 
probably  have  exterminated  the  white  people  in  ISTorth  Caro- 
lina but  for  the  timely  and  generous  assistance  of  South 
Carolina,  which  voted  £4,000  Sterling,  and  dispatched 
troops  immediately  to  Albemarle  without  so  much  as  asking 
for  security  or  promise  to  pay.  It  appears,  however,  that 
Virginia,  a  near  neighbor,  failed  to  render  any  aid,  although 
urged  to  do  so  by  Governor  Spottswood  in  an  eloquent  speech 
to  the  Legislature  of  that  Province.  It  is  this  war  which 
leads  us  to  the  introduction  of  Colonel  James  Moore,  son  of 
Governor  James  Moore,  of  South  Carolina,  who  came  from 
South  Carolina  with  a  second  force  of  troops  to  the  help  of 
our  colonists,  and  by  his  active  and  efficient  campaign  made 
short  work  of  the  Tuscaroras  and  restored  peace  to  our 
sorely  troubled  people. 

Meanwhile,  a  third  army  had  come  from  South  Carolina 
under  Major  Maurice  Moore,  a  younger  brother  of  Colonel 
James  Moore,  who  after  peace  remained  in  Albemarle.    The 


42  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

next  year  the  people  of  South  Carolina  were  themselves  in 
danger  of  extennination  because  of  a  most  terrible  Indian 
war,  and  Major  Maurice  Moore  was  dispatched  with  a  force 
to  tbeir  relief.  He  marched  along  the  coast,  crossing  the 
Cape  Fear  near  Sugar  Loaf,  and  was  so  well  pleased  with 
the  river  lands  that  he  conceiv^ed  the  idea  of  settling  them. 
The  Lords  Proprietors,  however,  had  prohibited  the  making 
of  any  settlement  within  twenty  miles  of  that  river,  and  it 
was  some  time  before  he  could  carry  out  his  plan.  Finally, 
in  1725,  he  and  his  kindred  and  friends  in  Albemarle  and 
South  Carolina  joined  in  settling  the  Cape  Fear  country. 
His  brother,  Roger  Moore,  had  married  a  daughter  of  Land- 
grave Smith,  who  in  1092  had  located  a  grant  of  48,000 
acres  on  the  Cape  Fear,  and  perhaps  this  had  an  influence 
in  bringing  about  the  settlement.  Roger  Moore  came  with 
his  hundreds  of  slaves  and  built  Orton,  while  Maurice  ^Nloore 
selected  a  most  admirable  site  on  a  bluff  near  Orton,  fifteen 
miles  below  the  present  city  of  Wilmington,  and  laid  out  a 
town  which  he  called  Brunswick,  in  honor  of  the  reigning 
fapaily.  Brunswick  quickly  prospered,  for  a  steady  stream 
of  population  flowed  in,  and  the  trade  of  the  river  grew 
rapidly.  In  1731  Dr.  Brickell  wrote  in  his  Natural  His- 
tory of  North  Carolina,  "Brunswick  has  a  great  trade,  a 
number  of  merchants  and  rich  planters."  At  that  early 
period  forty-two  vessels,  carrying  valuable  cargoes,  sailed 
from  the  port  in  one  year. 

In  its  early  years  Brunswick  was  in  Carteret  Precinct, 
for  when  Carteret  Precinct,  as  the  counties  were  formerly 
called,  was  established  in  1722,  it  ran  down  the  coast  to  the 
unknown  confines  of  jSTorth  Carolina,  and  back  into  the 
wilderness  without  limitation. 

So  the  settlement  at  Brunswick,  in  1725,  was  in  Carteret, 
until  New  Hanover  Precinct  was  established;  and  then  it 
was  in  ISTew  Hanover,  which  at  first  embraced  tbe  territory 
now  in  Duplin,  Sampson,  Bladen,  and  Brunswick  Counties. 
It  was  not  until  shortly  before  the  Revolution  that  Bruns- 
wick was  cut  off  from  ISTew  Hanover. 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  43 

As  the  Cape  Fear  region  was  originally  in  Carteret  Pre- 
cinct, some  of  the  early  grants  and  deeds  for  lands  in  New 
Hanover  and  Brunswick  were  registered  at  Beaufort,  the 
county  seat  of  Carteret. 


A  VISIT  TO  THE  CAPE  EEAR  IN  1Y34. 

(Georgia  Historical  Papers,  Vol.  II,  p.  54.) 

I  intend  after  my  return  to  Charleston  to  take  a  journey, 
by  land,  to  Cape  Fear  in  North  Carolina,  which  I  have 
heard  so  much  talk  of.    *    *    * 

I  set  out  from  Charleston  on  the  10th  of  June,  on  my 
travels  to  Cape  Fear,  in  North  Carolina,  in  company  with 
thirteen  more,  and  the  first  night  reached  Mr,  More's,  in 
Goose  Creek.     *     *     * 

The  next  morning,  just  as  we  were  setting  out  from 
thence,  our  tired  horses  came  in,  when  we  ordered  them  to 
be  left  there  till  further  orders ;  we  left  the  boys  behind  to 
come  after  us  as  well  as  they  could.  We  reached  Little 
Charlotta  by  dinner  time,  which  is  about  fifteen  miles  from 
Ash's,  or  Little  River ;  we  dined  there,  and  in  the  afternoon 
crossed  the  ferry,  where  we  intended  to  sleep  that  night. 
We  reached  there  about  eight  the  same  night,  after  having 
crossed  the  ferry. 

It  is  so  named  after  one  Lockwood,  a  Barbadian,  who  with 
several  others  attempted  to  settle  it  some  time  ago;  but,  by 
his  cruel  behavior  to  the  Indians,  they  drove  him  from 
thence,  and  it  has  not  been  settled  above  ten  years.  '"We  left 
Lockwood's  Folly  about  eight  the  next  morning,  and  by  two 
reached  the  tovm  of  Brunswick,  which  is  the  chief  town  in 
Cape  Fear;  but  with  no  more  than  two  of  the  same  horses 
which  came  with  us  out  of  South  Carolina.  We  dined  there 
that  afternoon.  Mr.  Roger  More  hearing  we  were  come,  was 
so  kind  as  to  send  fresh  horses  for  us  to  come  up  to  his 
house,  which  we  did,  and  were  kindly  received  by  him;  he 
being  the  chief  gentleman  in  all  Cape  Fear.  His  house  is 
built  of  brick,  and  exceedingly  pleasantly  situated  about  two 


44  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

miles  from  the  town,  and  about  half  a  mile  from  the  river; 
though  there  is  a  creek  comes  close  up  to  the  door,  between 
two  beautiful  meadows  about  three  miles  length.  He  has  a 
prospect  of  the  town  of  Brunswick,  and  of  another  beautiful 
brick  house,  a  building  about  half  a  mile  from  him,  belonging 
to  Eleazar  Allen,  Esq.,  late  speaker  to  the  Commons  House 
of  Assembly,  in  the  pro.vince  of  South  Carolina.  There 
were  several  vessels  lying  about  the  town  of  Brunswick,  but 
I  shall  forbear  giving  a  description  of  that  place ;  yet  on  the 
20th  of  June  we  left  Mr.  Roger  More's,  accompanied  by  his 
brother,  Nathaniel  More,  Esq.,  to  a  plantation  of  his,  up 
the  northwest  branch  of  Cape  Fear  River.  The  river  is 
wonderfully  pleasant,  being,  next  to  Savannah,  the  finest  on 
all  the  continent.  ^ 

We  reached  the  Forks,  as  they  call  it,  that  same  night, 
where  the  river  divides  into  two  very  beautiful  branches, 
called  the  l^ortheast  and  the  Northwest,  passing  by  several 
pretty  plantations  on  both  sides.  We  lodged  that  night  at 
one  Mr.  Jehu  Davis's,  and  the  next  morning,  proceeded  up 
the  Northwest  branch;  when  we  got  about  two  miles  from 
thence,  we  came  to  a  beautiful  plantation,  belonging  to  Cap- 
tain Gabriel,  who  is  a  great  merchant  there,  where  were  two 
ships,  two  sloops,  and  a  brigantine,  loaded  with  lumber  for 
the  West  Indies :  it  is  about  twenty-two  miles  from  the  bar ; 
when  we  came  about  four  miles  higher  up,  we  saw  an  open- 
ing on  the  northeast  side  of  us,  which  is  called  Black  River, 
on  which  there  is  a  great  deal  of  good  meadow  land,  but 
there  is  not  any  one  settled  on  it. 

The  next  night  we  came  to  another  plantation  belonging  to 
Mr.  Roger  More,  called  the  Blue  Banks,  where  he  is  a  going 
to  build  another  very  large  brick  house.  This  bluff  is  at 
least  a  hundred  feet  high,  and  has  a  beautiful  prospect 
over  a  fine  large  meadow,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river;  the  houses  are  all  built  on  the  southwest  side  of  the 
river,  it  being  for  the  most  part  high  champaign  land:  the 
other  side  is  very  much  subject  to  overflow,  but  I  cannot  learn 
they  have  lost  but  one  crop.     I  am  credibly  informed  they 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  45 

have  very  commonly  fourscore  bushels  of  corn  on  an  acre  of 
their  overflowed  land.     It  very  rarely  overflows  but  in  the 
winter  time,  when  their  crop  is  o.ff.     I  must  confess  I  saw 
the  finest  com  growing  there  that  I  ever  saw  in  my  life,  as 
likewise  wheat  and  hemp.     We  lodged  there  that  night  at 
one   Captain   Gibb's,    adjoining  to  Mr.   More's   plantation, 
where  we  met  with  very   good   entertainment.     The  next 
morning  we  left  his  house,  and  proceeded  up  the  said  river  to 
a  plantation  belonging  to  Mr.  John  Davis,  where  we  dined. 
The  plantations  on  this  river  are  very  much  alike  as  to  the 
situation;  but  there  are  many  more  improvements  on  some 
than  on  others ;  this  house  is  built  after  the  Dutch  fashion, 
and  made  to  front  both  ways — on  the  river,  and  on  the  land, 
he  has  a  beautiful  avenue  cut  through  the  woods  for  above 
two  miles,  which  is  a  great  addition  to  the  house.     We  left 
his  house  about  two  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  same  evening 
reached  Mr.  Nathaniel  More's  plantation,  which  is  reckoned 
forty  miles  from  Brunswick.     It  is  likewise  a  very  pleasant 
place  on  a  bluff  upwards  of  sixty  feet  high.     I  forebore  men- 
tioning any  thing  either  as  to  the  goodness  or  the  badness 
of  the  land  in  my  passage  from  South  Carolina,  it  being,  in 
short,  nothing  but  a  sandy  bank  from  Winneaw  Ferry  to 
Brunswick ;  and,  indeed,  the  town  itself  is  not  much  better 
at  present:  it  is  that  which  has  given  this  place  such  a  bad 
name  on  account  of  the  land,  it  being  the  only  road  to  South 
Carolina,  from  the  northern  part  of  the  continent,  and  as 
there  are  a  great  many  travellers  from  New  York,   New 
England,  &c.,  who  go  to  Charleston,  having  been  asked  what 
sort  of  land  they  have  in  Cape  Fear,  have  not  stuck  out  to 
say  that  it  is  all  a  mere  sand  bank ;  but  let  those  gentlemen 
take  a  view  of  the  rivers,  and  they  will  soon  be  convinced  to 
the  contrary,  as  well  as  myself,  who,  must  confess,  till  then 
was  of  their  opinion,  but  now  am  convinced  by  ocular  dem- 
onstration, for  I  have  not  so  much  as  seen  one  foot  of  bad 
land  since  my  leaving  Brunswick.     About  three  days  after 
my  arrival  at  Mr.  More's,  there  came  a  sloop  of  one  hundred 
tons,  and  upward,  from  South  Carolina,  to  be  laden  with 


46  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

com,  which  is  sixty  miles  at  least  from  the  bar.  I  never  yet 
heard  of  any  man  who  was  ever  at  the  head  of  that  river,  but 
they  tell  me  the  higher  you  go  up  the  better  the  land,  and 
the  river  grows  wider  and  wider.  There  are  people  settled 
at  least  forty  miles  higher  up,  but  indeed  the  tide  does  not 
flow,  at  the  most,  above  twenty  miles  higher.  Two  days 
after,  I  was  taken  very  ill  of  an  agTie  and  fever,  which  con- 
tinued on  me  for  near  a  month,  in  which  time  my  com- 
panions left  me,  and  returned  to  South  Carolina.  When 
I  began  to  recover  my  health  a  little,  I  mentioned  to  Mr. 
More  the  gTeat  desire  I  had  to  see  Waccamaw  Lake,  as  I 
had  heard  so  much  talk  of  it,  and  been  myself  a  great  way  up 
the  river,  that  I  was  sure  by  the  course  of  the  country,  I  could 
not  be  above  twenty  miles  from  thence,  he  told  me  he  had  a 
negro  fellow,  who  he  thought  could  carry  me  to  it,  and  that 
he  would  accompany  me  himself,  vsdth  some  others  of  his 
acquaintance.  On  the  18th  of  July  we  set  out  from  his 
house  on  horseback,  with  every  one  his  gun,  and  took  the 
negro  with  us.  We  rode  about  four  miles  on  a  direct  course 
through  an  open  pine  barren,  when  we  came  to  a  large 
cane  swamp,  about  half  a  mile  through,  which  we  crossed  in 
about  an  hour's  time,  but  I  was  astonished  to  see  the  innu- 
merable sight  of  musquetoes,  and  the  largest  that  I  ever  saw 
in  my  life,  for  they  made  nothing  to  fetch  blood  of  us 
through  our  buckskin  gloves,  coats,  and  jackets.  As  soon  as 
we  got  through  that  swamp,  we  came  to  another  open  pine 
barren,  where  we  saw  a  great  herd  of  deer,  the  largest  and 
fattest  that  ever  I  saw  in  those  parts :  we  made  shift  to  kill 
a  brace  of  them,  which  we  made  a  hearty  dinner  on.  We 
rode  about  two  miles  farther,  when  we  came  to  another  cane 
swamp,  where  we  shot  a  large  she-bear  and  two  cubs.  It  was 
so  large  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  we  got  through  it. 
When  we  got  on  the  other  side,  it  began  to  rain  very  hard, 
or  otherwise,  as  far  as  I  know,  we  might  have  shot  ten 
brace  of  deer,  for  they  were  almost  as  thick  as  in  the  parks  in 
England,  and  did  not  seem  to  be  in  the  least  afraid  of  us, 
for  I  question  much  whether  they  had  ever  seen  a  man  in 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  47 

their  lives  before,  for  they  seemed  to  look  on  us  as  amazed. 
We  made  shift  as  well  as  we  could  to  reach  the  lake  the  same 
night,  but  had  but  little  pleasure ;  it  continued  to  rain  very 
hard,  we  made  a  large  fire  of  lightwood,  and  slept  as  well  as 
we  could  that  night.  The  next  morning  we  took  a  par- 
ticular view  of  it,  and  I  think  it  is  the  pleasantest  place  that 
ever  I  saw  in  my  life.  It  is  at  least  eighteen  miles  round, 
surrounded  with  exceedingly  good  land,  as  oak  of  all  sorts, 
hickory,  and  fine  cypress  swamps.  There  is  an  old  Indian 
field  to  be  seen,  which  shows  it  was  formerly  inhabited  by 
them,  but  I  believe  not  within  these  fifty  years,  for  there  is 
scarce  one  of  the  Cape  Fear  Indians,  or  the  Waccumaws, 
that  can  give  any  account  of  it.  There  is  plenty  of  deer, 
wild  turkeys,  geese,  and  ducks,  and  fish  in  abundance;  we 
shot  sufficient  to  serve  forty  men,  though  there  were  but  six 
of  us.  We  went  almost  round  it,  but  there  is  on  the  north- 
east side  a  small  cypress  swamp,  so  deep  that  we  could  not 
go  through  it ;  we  returned  back  again  on  a  direct  line,  being 
resolved  to  find  how  far  it  was  on  a  straight  course  from  the 
northwest  branch  of  Cape  Fear  River,  which  we  found  did 
not  exceed  ten  miles. 

We  returned  back  to  Mr.  More's  that  same  night,  having 
satisfied  our  curiosity,  and  the  next  morning  set  out  with  an 
intent  to  take  a  view  of  the  northeast  branch,  on  which 
there  is  a  great  deal  of  good  land,  but  not  in  my  opinion, 
for  the  generality,  so  good  as  on  the  northwest,  but  I  think 
the  river  is  much  more  beautiful.  We  lay  that  first  night 
at  Newtown,  in  a  small  hut,  and  the  next  day  reached  Rocky 
Point,  which  is  the  finest  place  in  all  Cape  Fear.  There  are 
several  very  worthy  gentlemen  settled  there,  particularly 
Colonel  Maurice  More,  Captain  Heme,  John  Swan,  Esq., 
and  several  others.  We  stayed  there  one  night,  and  the 
next  morning  set  out  on  horseback  to  take  a  view  of  the 
land  backward,  imagining  that  there  might  be  only  a  skirt  of 
good  land  on  the  river,  but  I  am  sure  I  rode  for  about  twenty 
miles  back,  through  nothing  but  black  walnut,  oak,  and 
hickory;  we  returned  the  same  night  to  Rocky  Point,  and 


48  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  next  morning  set  out  for  a  plantation  belonging  to  Mr. 
John  Davis,  within  six  miles  of  Brunswick,  where  I  was  a 
second  time  taken  ill,  so  that  I  thought  I  should  have  died ; 
but  by  the  providence  of  God,  and  the  care  of  good  Mrs. 
Davis,  I  recovered  in  a  fortnight's  time,  so  that  I  was  able 
to  set  out  on  my  journey  to  South  Carolina.  I  took  leave 
of  that  worthy  family  on  the  10th  of  August,  when  she  was 
so  kind  as  to  force  me  to  take  a  bottle  of  shrub,  and  several 
other  things  with  me.  I  reached  Mr.  Roger  More's  the  same 
night,  where  I  was  again  handsomely  received,  but  being 
resolved  to  set  out  on  my  journey  the  next  morning,  he  gener- 
ously offered  me  a  horse  to  carry  me  to  the  house  where  I 
was  obliged  to  leave  mine  on  the  road,  as  likewise  a  servant 
to  attend  me,  which  I  refused.  I  left  his  house  the  next 
morning,  being  the  11th  of  August,  at  half  an  hour  after 
seven,  and  reached  Brunswick  by  eight.  I  set  out  from 
thence  about  nine,  and  about  four  miles  from  thence  met  my 
landlord  of  Lockwood's  Folly,  who  was  in  hopes  I  would 
stay  at  his  house  all  night.     *     *     * 

"When  I  was  about  half  way  over  the  bay,  I  intended  to 
stop  at  the  next  spring  and  take  a  tiff  of  punch ;  but  by  some 
unfortunate  accident,  I  know  not  how,  when  I  came  within 
sight  of  the  spring,  my  bottle  unluckily  broke,  and  I  lost 
every  drop  of  my  shrub;  but  examining  my  bags,  I  acci- 
dentally found  a  bottle  of  cherry  brandy,  with  some  ginger- 
bread and  cheese,  which  I  believe  good  Mrs.  More  ordered 
to  be  put  up  unknown  to  me.  I  drank  two  drams  of  that, 
not  being  willing  it  should  all  be  lost  in  case  it  should 
break,  and  mounting  my  horse,  took  some  gingerbread  and 
cheese  in  my  hand  and  pursued  my  journey. 

******* 

I  reached  Witton's  by  noon,  and  had  my  possum  dressed 
for  dinner.  *  *  *  I  arrived  at  Charleston  on  the  Yth  day 
of  August,  where  I  remained  till  the  23d  of  November,  when 
I  set  sail  for  England  and  arrived  safe  in  London  on  the  3d 
of  January,  1734-5. 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  49 

ERECTION   OF  WILMINGTON— DECAY   OF 
BRUNSWICK. 

In  the  cove  near  Governor  Trjon's  residence,  still  knoAvn 
as  Governor's  Cove,  were  anchored  in  Colonial  times  His 
Majesty's  sloops  Viper,  Diligence,  and  Cruiser;  and  the 
frigate  Rose,  a  prison  ship,  was  anchored  in  the  stream. 
This  roadstead  proved  to  be  unsafe  in  stormy  weather,  and 
because  of  that  fact  and  of  the  growth  of  a  village  15  miles 
farther  up  the  river  called  New  Liverpool,  afterwards  New- 
ton, and  lastly  Wilmington,  which  absorbed  the  trade  of  the 
two  branches  of  the  river  near  that  point,  and  prospered, 
a  gradual  exodus  from  Brunswick  began  and  continued;  so 
that  while  Wilmington  flourished  and  became  the  capital  of 
the  Province,  Brunswick  dwindled  and  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  was  wholly  abandoned. 

In  1731  John  Maultsby  took  out  a  warrant  for  640  acres 
of  land  opposite  the  "  thoroughfare,"  and  John  Watson 
located  a  similar  warrant  adjoining  and  below  that.  In 
1732  a  few  enterprising  men  settled  on  Maultsby's  grant  for 
trade,  and  called  the  place  New  Liverpool.  The  next  spring 
Michael  Higgins,  Joshua  Granger,  James  Wimble  and  John 
Watson  joined  in  laying  off  a  town  on  Watson's  entry,  which 
they  called  Newton. 

Governor  Gabriel  Johnston  arrived  in  November,  1734, 
and  he  at  once  espoused  the  cause  of  Newton  as  against 
Brunswick,  the  older  town.  He  bought  land  near  Newton 
and  led  his  friends  to  do  so.  Determined  to  give  it  im- 
portance, he  ordered  that  the  council  should  meet  there,  and 
also  that  the  courts  should  be  held  there  instead  of  at 
Brunswick ;  and,  indeed,  as  a  sort  of  advertisement,  he  made 
May  13,  1735,  a  gala  day  for  the  village.  On  that  day  he 
had  the  land  office  opened  there,  also  the  Court  of  Exchequer 
to  meet  there,  as  well  as  the  New  Hanover  Court,  and,  like- 
wise, the  council.  Then  he  sought  to  have  the  village  incor- 
porated, under  the  name  of  Wilmington.  For  a  brief  time 
the  influence  of  Brunswick  prevailed  against  him;  but  he 
finally  succeeded. 


50  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

The  Act  of  Incorporation,^  passed  in  1739  by  the  Assembly, 
is  as  follows : 

An  Act,  for  erecting  the  village  called  I^ewton,  in  New 
Hanover  County,  into  a  town  and  township,  by  the  name  of 
Wilmington;  and  regulating  and  ascertaining  the  bounds 
thereof. 

Section  1.  Whereas,  several  merchants,  tradesmen,  ar- 
tificers, and  other  persons  of  good  substance,  have  settled 
themselves  at  a  village  called  Newton,  lying  on  the  east 
branch  of  Cape  Fear;  and  whereas,  the  said  village  by  rea- 
son of  its  convenient  situation  at  the  meeting  of  the  two 
great  branches  of  Cape  Fear  River,  and  likewise,  by  reason 
of  the  depth  of  water,  capable  of  receiving  vessels  of  con- 
siderable burthen,  safety  of  its  roads  beyond  any  other  part 
of  the  river,  and  the  secure  and  easy  access  from  all  parts 
of  the  different  branches  of  the  said  river,  is,  upon  all  those 
and  many  other  accounts,  more  proper  for  being  erected  into 
a  town  or  township,  than  any  other  part  of  the  said  river. 

Sec.  2.  Be  it  therefore  enacted  by  His  Excellency  Gabriel 
Johnston,  Esq.,  Governor,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  con- 
sent of  His  Majesty's  Council  and  General  Assembly  of 
this  province,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted,  by  the  authority  of 
the  same,  that  the  village  heretofore  called  Newton,  lying 
on  the  east  side  of  the  northeast  branch  of  Cape  Fear  River, 
in  New  Hanover  County,  shall,  from  and  after  the  passage 
of  this  Act,  be  a  town  and  township,  and  the  said  village  is 
hereby  established  a  town  and  township  by  the  name  of 
Wilmington,  the  bounds  whereof  shall  be  and  are  circum- 
scribed in  manner  follo,wing:  That  is  to  say,  to  the  north- 
east, by  the  lands  of  His  Excellency  Gabriel  Johnston,  Esq. ; 
upwards  and  below,  by  the  lands  of  Michael  Dyer;  to  the 
westward  by  the  northeast  branch  of  Cape  Fear  River;  and 
to  the  eastward,  by  a  line  drawn  between  the  said  lands  of 
His  Excellency  Gabriel  Johnston,  Esq. ;  and  Michael  Dyer, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  poles  distant  from  the  river. 

iSwann's  Collections  Public  Acts,  North  Carolina,  Chapter  LV, 
page  99. 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  51 

Sec.  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  forever,  after  passing  of  this  Act,  the  inhabitants 
of  and  near  the  said  town,  qualified  as  hereinafter  mentioned 
shall  have  the  privilege  of  choosing  one  representative  for  the 
said  tovm,  to  sit  and  vote  in  General  Assembly. 

Sec.  4.  And  for  ascertaining  the  method  of  choosing  the 
said  representative,  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority 
aforesaid,  that  every  tenant  of  any  brick,  stone,  or  framed 
inhabitable  house,  of  the  length  of  twenty  feet,  and  sixteen 
feet  wide,  within  the  bounds  of  the  said  town,  who,  at  the 
day  of  election,  and  for  three  months  next  before,  inhabited 
such  house,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  in  the  election  for  the 
Eepresentative  of  the  said  town,  to  be  sent  to  the  General 
Assembly,  and  in  case  there  shall  be  no  tenant  of  such 
house  in  the  said  town,  on  the  day  of  election,  qualified  to 
vote  as  aforesaid,  that  then,  and  in  such  case,  the  person 
seized  of  such  house,  either  in  fee-simple,  or  fee-tail,  or  for 
term  of  life,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  for  the  Representative 
aforesaid. 

Sec.  5.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  every  person  who,  on  the  day  of  election,  and  for 
three  months  next  before,  shall  be  in  actual  possession  or  an 
inhabitant  of  a  brick  house,  of  the  length  of  thirty  feet,  and 
sixteen  feet  wide,  between  the  bounds  of  the  said  town 
upwards,  and  Smith  Creek,  and  within  one  hundred  and 
twenty  poles  of  the  northeast  branch  of  Cape  Fear  River, 
shall  be  entitled  to,  and  have  a  vote  in  the  election  of  a  Rep^ 
resentative  for  the  said  toiwn  (unless  such  person  be  a  serv- 
ant), and  shall,  as  long  as  he  continues  an  inhabitant  of 
such  house,  within  the  said  bounds,  enjoy  all  the  rights, 
privileges,  and  immunities,  to  which  any  inhabitant  within 
the  said  town  shall  be  entitled,  by  virtue  of  said  Act. 

Sec.  6.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  no  person  shall  be  deemed  qualified  to  be  a  Repre- 
sentative for  the  said  to,wn,  to  sit  in  the  General  Assembly, 
unless,  on  the  day  of  election,  he  be,  and  for  three  months 
next  before,  was  seized,  in  fee-simple,  or  for  the  term  of  life, 
5 


52  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

of  a  brick,  stone  or  framed  house  of  the  dimensions  afore- 
said, with  one  or  more  brick  chimney  or  chimnies. 

Sec.  7.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  forever,  after  the  passing  of  this  Act,  the  court  of 
the  co.unty  of  New  Hanover,  and  the  election  of  the  Repre- 
sentatives to  be  sent  to  the  General  Assembly,  and  the  elec- 
tion of  Vestrymen,  and  all  other  public  elections,  of  what 
kind  or  nature  soever,  for  the  said  county  and  town,  shall 
be  held  and  made  in  the  town  of  Wilmington,  and  at  no  other 
place  whatsoever,  any  law,  statute,  usage,  or  custom,  to  the 
contrary,  notwithstanding. 

Sec.  8.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  by  the  authority  afore- 
said, that  from  and  after  the  passing  of  this  Act,  the  Col- 
lector and  Naval  OflScers  of  the  port  of  Brunswick  (of  which 
port  the  said  town  of  Wilmington  is  the  most  central  and  con- 
venient place,  both  for  exportation  and  importation,  by 
reason  of  its  navigation  and  situation),  shall  constantly 
reside  in  the  said  town,  and  there  keep  their  respective 
offices,  until  his  Majesty  shall  be  pleased  to  give  his  direc- 
tions to  the  contrary.  And  likewise,  the  Clerk  of  the  Court 
of  the  County  of  New  Hanover,  and  the  Register  of  the  said 
co.unty,  shall  constantly  hold  and  execute  their  respective 
offices  in  the  said  town  of  Wilmington ;  and  that  if  either 
of  the  said  officers  neglect  or  refuse  so  to  do,  he  so  neglect- 
ing or  refusing,  shall,  for  every  month  he  shall  be  a  de- 
linquent, forfeit  and  pay  the  sum  of  five  pounds  proclama- 
tion money ;  to  be  sued  for  and  recovered,  by  him  who  shall 
sue  for  the  same,  in  the  general  court  of  this  province,  or  in 
the  county  court  of  New  Hanover,  by  action  of  debt,  bill, 
plaint,  or  information,  wherein  no  essoin,  protection,  injunc- 
tion, or  wager  of  law  shall  be  allowed,  and  one-half  of  such 
forfeiture  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  person  who  sues  for  the 
same,  and  the  other  half  shall  be  paid  to  the  commissioners, 
for  the  time  being,  appointed  for  regulating  the  said  town. 

Sec.  9.  And  for  the  due  regulating  the  said  town,  be  it 
further  enacted,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that  Robert 
Halton,  James  Murray,  Samuel  Woodard,  William  Farris, 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  53 

Richard  Eagles,  Jolm  Porter  and  Eobert  Walker,  Esquires, 
are  hereby  established  and  appointed  commissioners  for  the 
said  town;  and  the  said  commissioners,  or  a  majority  of 
them,  and  their  successors  shall  have,  and  be  invested  v^ith 
all  powers  and  authorities  within  the  bounds  of  the  said 
town  of  Wilmington,  in  as  full  and  ample  manner,  as  the 
commissioners  for  the  town  of  Edenton  have  or  possess,  by 
virtue  of  any  law  heretofore  passed. 

Sec.  10.  And  whereas  the  justices  of  the  County  Court  of 
New  Hanover,  at  the  court  held  at  Brunswick,  on  Tuesday 
the  eleventh  day  of  December  last,  have  imposed  a  tax  of  five 
shillings  per  poll,  to  be  levied  on  the  tithable  inhabitants 
of  the  said  county,  between  the  first  day  of  January,  and  the 
first  day  of  March,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  ;  and  afterwards,  one  other  tax  of  five  shillings  per  poll, 
to  be  levied  on  the  said  inhabitants,  between  the  first  day  of 
January  and  the  first  day  of  March,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  forty,  towards  building  a  courthouse  and  gaol 
in  the  town  of  Brunswick,  for  the  said  county. 

Sec.  11.  Be  it  enacted,  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  that 
the  justices  of  the  said  County  Court  shall,  and  are  hereby 
directed  to  apply  the  said  levy  or  tax  towards  finishing  and 
completing  the  courthouse  already  erected  in  the  said  town 
of  Wilmington,  and  towards  building  a  gaol  in  the  said  town. 

Sec.    12.  And   be  it  further  enacted,   by   the   authority 
aforesaid,  that  if  any  one  or  more  of  the  said  commissioners 
shall  die,  or  remove  out  of  the  county,  that  then  and  in 
such  case,  the  surviving  or  remaining  commissioners  shall, 
within  six  months  after  the  death  or  removal  of  such  com- 
missioner, present  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor  or  Com- 
mander in  Chief  for  the  time  being,  three  persons,  one  of 
which  the  said  Governor  or  Commander  in  Chief  is  hereby 
empowered  to  nominate  and  appoint;  and  the  commissioners 
so  appointed  shall  be  invested  with  the  same  powers  and 
authorities,  as  any  commissioner  nominated  by  this  Act. 
Gabeiel  Johnston^  Esq.,  Gov. 
William  Smith,  President. 
John  Hodgson,  Speaker. 


54  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

THE  SPAI^TISH  INVASION. 

On  November  20,  1740,  a  considerable  force  enlisted  on 
the  Cape  Fear  left  Wilmington  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
James  Innes  to  fight  the  Spaniards  at  Carthagena;  they 
were  carried  off  by  disease  and  but  few  returned.  The  next 
year  the  Spaniards  in  retaliation  seized  Ocracoke  Inlet  and 
committed  tremendous  depredations.  And  again,  in  1744, 
they  scoured  the  coast.  Three  years  later,  they  made  an- 
other foray.  In  July,  1747,  they  entered  the  Cape  Fear, 
but  the  militia  were  prompt  in  meeting  them,  and  held  them 
in  check,  taking  some  prisoners.  From  there  they  went 
north,  entered  Beaufort  Harbor,  and,  on  August  26th,  after 
several  days'  fighting,  gained  possession  of  the  town.  Em- 
boldened by  this  victory,  they  returned  to  the  Cape  Fear, 
and,  on  September  4,  1747,  began  to  ascend  the  river.  New 
Hanover  County  then  included  what  has  since  become  Bruns- 
wick, and  the  people  from  Duplin  to  Lockwood's  Folly  sprang 
to  their  horses  and  hurried  to  Brunswick.  Eleazar  Allen, 
Roger  Moore,  Edward  Moseley,  and  William  Forbes  were 
appointed  the  commissioners  to  take  measures  for  defense; 
while  Maj.  John  Swann  was  invested  with  the  immediate 
command  of  the  troops.  The  companies  of  Capt.  William 
Dry,  Capt.  John  Ashe,  and  Capt.  John  Sampson,  from 
the  upper  part  of  the  county,  alone  numbered  300  men;  so 
the  defenders  doubtless  were  about  a  thousand.  On  the 
6th,  the  Spaniards  possessed  themselves  of  Brunswick,  and 
for  four  days  the  battle  raged.  At  length,  on  September 
10th,  one  of  the  Spanish  vessels  was  blo,wn  up  and  the 
others  were  driven  off.  All  that  day  Colonel  Dry  was  bury- 
ing dead  Spaniards,  for  a  considerable  number  of  them  per- 
ished, and  29  were  taken  alive.  It  was  from  the  destroyed 
vessel  that  the  painting  in  the  vestry  room  of  St.  James 
Church  in  Wilmington,  "Ecce  Homo.,"  was  taken.  The 
spoils  from  the  wreck  were  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the 
churches  in  Brunswick  and  Wilmington. 

Because  of  these  incursions,  a  fort  was  built  the  next  year 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  55 

to  guard  the  river — Fort  Johnston.  It  was  garrisoned  by 
companies  raised  in  the  vicinity,  and  some  of  the  young 
officers  trained  to  arms  there  afterwards  became  distinguished 
in  the  French  and  Indian  wars  and  in  the  Revolution ;  among 
them  Generals  James  Moore  and  Robert  Howe. 


COLOmAL  PLANTATIONS  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAR. 

In  his  admirable  History  of  New  Hanover  County,  a 
labor  of  love  fo.r  which  the  accomplished  author  never  re- 
ceived the  smallest  compensation,  the  late  Col.  Alfred 
Moore  Waddell  describes  sixty-six  prominent  plantations 
and  their  proprietors  on  the  lower  Cape  Fear,  in  Colonial 
times.  Of  the  manner  of  life  of  these  planters,  he  says  in 
A  Colonial  Officer  and  His  Times: 

"In  the  Southern  end  of  the  Province,  at  Brunswick  and 
Wilmington,  and  along  the  Cape  Fear,  there  was  an  equally 
refined  and  cultivated  society  and  some  very  remarkable 
men.  No  better  society  existed  in  America,  and  it  is  but 
simple  truth  to  say  that  for  classical  learning,  wit,  oratory, 
and  varied  accomplishments,  no  generation  of  their  succes- 
sors has  equaled  them. 

"Their  hospitality  was  boundless  and  proverbial,  and  of 
the  manner  in  which  it  was  enjoyed  there  can  be  no  counter- 
part in  the  present  age.  Some  of  them  had  town  residences, 
but  most  of  them  lived  on  their  plantations,  and  they  were 
not  the  thriftless  characters  that  by  some  means  it  became 
fashionable  to  assume  all  Southern  planters  were.  There 
was  much  gayety  and  festivity  among  them,  and  some  of 
them  rode  hard  to  hounds,  but  as  a  general  rule  they  looked 
after  their  estates,  and  kept  themselves  as  well  informed 
in  regard  to  what  was  going  on  in  the  world  as  the  limited 
means  of  communication  allowed.  There  was  little  display, 
but  in  almost  every  house  could  be  found  valuable  plate,  and, 
in  some,  excellent  libraries.  The  usual  mode  of  travel  was 
on  horseback,  and  in  "gigs,"  or  "chairs,"  which  were  ve- 
hicles without  springs  but  hung  on  heavy  straps,  and  to  which 


56  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

one  horse,  and  sometimes  by  young  beaux,  two  horses,  tan- 
dem, were  driven ;  a  mounted  servant  rode  behind,  or,  if  the 
gig  was  occupied  by  ladies,  beside  the  horse.  The  family 
coach  was  mounted  by  three  steps,  and  had  great  carved 
leather  springs,  with  baggage  rack  behind,  and  a  high,  nar- 
row driver's  seat  and  box  in  front.  The  gentlemen  wore 
clubbed  and  powdered  queues  and  knee-breeches,  with 
buckled  lo.w-quartered  shoes,  and  many  carried  gold  or  silver 
snuffboxes  which,  being  first  tapped,  were  handed  with 
grave  courtesy  to  their  acquaintances  when  passing  the  com- 
pliments of  the  day.  There  are  persons  still  living  who 
remember  seeing  these  things  in  their  early  youth.  The 
writer  of  these  lines  himself  remembers  seeing  in  his  child- 
hood the  decaying  remains  of  old  "chairs"  and  family 
coaches,  and  knew  at  that  time  several  old  negroes  who  had 
been  body  servants  in  their  youth  to  the  proprietors  of  these 
ancient  vehicles.  It  is  no  wonder  they  sometimes  drove  the 
coaches  four-in-hand.  It  was  not  only  grand  style,  but  the 
weight  of  the  vehicle  and  the  character  of  the  roads  made  it 
necessary. 

''During  the  period  embraced  in  these  pages,  four-wheeled 
pleasure  vehicles  were  rare,  and  even  two-wheeled  ones  were 
not  common,  except  among  the  town  nabobs  and  well-to-do 
planters.  The  coaches,  or  chariots,  as  a  certain  class  of 
vehicles  was  called,  were  all  imported  from  England,  and 
the  possession  of  such  a  means  of  locomotion  was  evidence  of 
high  social  position.  It  was  less  than  twenty  years  before 
the  period  named,  that  the  first  stage  wagon  in  the  Colonies, 
in  1738,  was  run  from  Trenton  to  ISTew  Brunswick,  in  !N'ew 
Jersey,  twice  a  week,  and  the  advertisement  of  it  assured 
the  public  that  it  would  be  fitted  up  with  benches  and 
covered  over  'so  that  passengers  may  sit  easy  and  dry.'  " 

Some  of  the  prominent  lower  Cape  Fear  men  of  Colonial 
and  Revolutionary  days  were.  Governor  Burrington,  of  Gov- 
ernor's Point;  G^n.  Eobert  Howe,  of  Howe's  Point;  Na- 
thaniel Moore,  of  York;  Gov.  Arthur  Dobbs,  of  Russell- 
boro;   all  below  Orton.     "King"  Roger  Moore,  of  Orton; 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  57 

James  Smith,  of  Kendal ;  Eleazar  Allen,  of  Lilliput ;  John 
Moore,  of  Pleasant  Oaks;  Nathaniel  Rice,  of  Old  Town 
Creek;  John  Baptista  Ashe,  of  Spring  Garden,  afterwards 
called  Grovely;  Chief  Justice  Hasell,  of  Belgrange; 
Schencking  Moore,  of  Hullfields;  John  Davis,  of  Davis 
Plantation;  John  Dalrymple  (who  commanded  Fort  John- 
ston), of  Dalrymple  Place;  John  Ancrum,  of  Old  Town; 
Marsden  Campbell,  of  Clarendon;  Richard  Eagles,  of  The 
Forks;  Judge  Alfred  Moore,  of  Buchoi;  John  Waddell,  of 
Belville;  Gov.  Benjamin  Smith,  of  Belvidere.  These  were 
all  below  Wilmington.  Many  others  equally  important 
resided  on  their  plantations  above  Wilmington.  All  are  re- 
corded in  Colonel  Waddell's  History  of  New  Hanover 
County,  but  these  are  mentioned  here  in  support  of  the  state- 
ment that  the  Cape  Fear  planters  of  olden  time  were  men  of 
mark. 


SOCIAL  CONDITIONS. 

In  McRee's  valuable  Life  and  Correspondence  of  James 
Iredell,  that  gifted  Wilmingtonian  said : 

"Mr.  Hooper  was  nine  years  Mr.  Iredell's  senior,  and 
already  a  man  of  mark  at  the  bar  and  in  the  Assembly.  To 
estimate  at  its  full  value  his  deference  to  Iredell,  these  facts 
must  be  borne  in  mind.  Mr.  Hooper  was  a  native  of  Boston, 
and  a  graduate  of  Cambridge,  Mass.  After  studying  law 
wdth  James  Otis,  he  removed  to  North  Carolina,  in  1764. 
He  became  a  citizen  of  Wilmington.  That  tovm  and  its 
vicinity  was  noted  for  its  unbounded  hospitality  and  the  ele- 
gance of  its  society.  Men  of  rare  talents,  fortune,  and  at- 
tainment, united  to  render  it  the  home  of  politeness,  and 
ease,  and  enjoyment.  Though  the  footprint  of  the  Indian 
had,  as  yet,  scarcely  been  effaced,  the  higher  civilization 
of  the  Old  World  had  been  transplanted  there,  and  had 
taken  vigorous  root.  There  were  Col.  John  Ashe  (subse- 
quently General  Ashe),  the  great  popular  leader,  whose  ad- 
dress was  consummate,  and  whose  quickness  of  apprehension 


58  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

seemed  intuition,  the  very  Rupert  of  debate;  Samuel  Ashe, 
of  stalwart  frame,  endowed  with  practical  good  sense,  a 
profound  knowledge  of  human  nature,  and  an  energy  that 
eventually  raised  him  to  the  Bench  and  the  post  of  Gov- 
ernor; Harnett  (afterwards  President  of  the  Provincial 
Council),  'who  could  boast  a  genius  for  music  and  taste  for 
letters,'  the  representative  man  of  the  Cape  Fear;  Dr.  John 
Eustace,  the  correspondent  of  Sterne,  'who  united  wit,  and 
genius,  and  learning,  and  science' ;  Col.  Thomas  Boyd, 
'gifted  with  talents,  and  adorned  with  classical  literature' ; 
Howe  (afterwards  General  Howe),  'whose  imagination  fasci- 
nated, whose  repartee  overpowered,  and  whose  conversation 
was  enlivened  by  strains  of  exquisite  raillery' ;  Dr.  John 
Fergus,  of  stately  presence,  with  velvet  coat,  cocked  hat,  and 
gold  headed  cane,  a  graduate  of  Edinburgh,  and  an  excellent 
Latin  and  Greek  scholar;  Wm.  Pennington  (Comptroller  of 
the  Customs,  and  afterwards  Master  of  the  Ceremonies  at 
Bath),  'an  elegant  writer,  admired  for  his  wit,  and  his 
highly  polished  urbanity' ;  Judge  Maurice  Moore,  of  'ver- 
satile talents,  and  possessed  of  extensive  information,  as  a 
wit,  always  prompt  in  reply ;  as  an  orator,  always  daring 
the  mercy  of  chance' ;  Maclaine,  irascible,  but  intellectual, 
who  trod  the  path  of  honor  early  pari  passu  with  Iredell  and 
Hooper  and  Johnston,  and  'whose  criticisms  on  Shakes- 
peare would,  if  they  were  published,  give  him  fame  and 
rank  in  the  republic  of  letters' ;  William  Hill,  'a  most  sensi- 
ble, polite  gentleman,  and  though  a  Crown  officer,  replete 
with  sentiments  of  general  liberty,  and  warmly  attached  to 
the  cause  of  American  Freedom' ;  Lillington,  destined  soon  at 
Moore's  Creek  to  render  his  name  historical ;  James  Moore, 
whose  subsequent  appointment  as  major  general,  and  whose 
promises  of  a  brilliant  career  wero^soon  to  be  terminated  by 
a  premature  death;  Lewis  Henry  DeRosset,  member  of  the 
Council,  a  cultivated  and  elegant  gentleman;  Adam  Boyd, 
editor  of  the  Cape  Fear  Mercury  (subsequently  chaplain 
to  the  Continental  Line),  'who,  without  pretensions  to  wit  or 
humor,  possessed  the  rare  art  of  telling  a  story  with  spirit 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  59 

and  grace,  and  whose  elegiac  numbers  afforded  a  striking 
contrast  to  the  vivid  brilliancy  of  the  scenes  in  which  he 
figured';  Alfred  Moore,  subsequently  an  associate  justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States;  Timothy  Blood- 
worth,  stigmatized  by  his  enemies  as  an  impracticable  radi- 
cal, 'everything  by  turns,'  but  withal  a  true  exponent  of  the 
instincts  and  prejudices,  the  finest  feelings  and  the  noblest 
impulses  of  the  masses.  These  were  no  ordinary  men. 
They  were  of  the  remarkable  class  that  seem  ever  to  be  the 
product  of  crises  in  human  affairs.  Though  inferior  to 
many  of  them  in  the  influence  that  attends  years,  opulence, 
and  extensive  connections,  yet  in  scholarship  and  genius,  Mr. 
Hooper  was  preeminent.  I  use  the  word  genius  in  contra- 
distinction to  talent.  He  had  much  nervous  irritability,  was 
imaginative  and  susceptible.  With  a  well-disciplined  mind, 
and  of  studious  habits,  he  shone  with  lustre  whenever  he 
pleased  to  exert  himself." 

To  the  above  we  add  the  name  of  Lieut.  Thomas  Godfrey, 
who  having  served  in  the  War  against  the  French  at  the 
ISTorth,  in  1760,  at  the  age  of  23,  moved  from  Philadelphia 
and  located  at  Wilmington.  His  father  is  distinguished  as 
the  inventor  of  Hadley's  quadrant.  He  himself  possessed 
the  creative  faculty  in  an  eminent  degree,  and  he  was  a  poet 
and  well  versed  in  literature.  His  poem.  The  Court  of  Fancy, 
and  his  elegies  and  pastorals  are  said  to  have  remarkable 
beauty.  But  he  is  distinguished  above  all  as  being  the  author 
of  the  first  American  drama,  a  tragedy.  The  Prince  of  Par- 
thia,  written  at  Wilmington.  He  doubtless  enjoyed  congenial 
association  with  Hooper,  Maclaine,  Moore  and  others  on  the 
Cape  Fear ;  but  unhappily  his  career  was  cut  short  from  over 
exertion  in  swimming  in  the  river,  on  August  3,  1763,  at  the 
early  age  of  26  years. 


60  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

COLONIAL  ORTON. 

Many  of  the  old  homesteads  described  by  Colonel  Waddell 
have  fallen  into  decay  and  some  of  the  residences  have  en- 
tirely disappeared,  but  Orton,  on  the  lovp^er  Cape  Fear  River, 
still  stands  as  it  did  in  Colonial  days,  when  it  was  the  home 
of  "King"  Roger  Moore,  of  Gov.  Benjamin  Smith,  of  Rich- 
ard Quince,  and  in  later  years  of  Dr.  Fred  J.  Hill  and  Col. 
Kenneth  McKenzie  Murchison, 

It  is  a  majestic  domain  of  more  than  ten  thousand  acres, 
and  the  house  is  still  regarded  by  competent  critics  as  one  of 
the  finest  examples  of  pure  Colonial  architecture  in  America. 

The  lordly  residence  of  Chief  Justice  Eleazar  Allen,  upon 
the  adjacent  plantation  of  Lilliput,  which  was  distinguished 
in  his  day  by  a  large  and  liberal  hospitality,  has  long  since 
disappeared,  but  the  gi*and  old  oaks  which  lifted  their  ma- 
jestic branches  to  the  soft  south  breezes  in  Colonial  times, 
still  sing  their  murmured  requiem  above  a  "boundless  con- 
tiguity of  shade." 

Here,  upon  the  banks  of  our  historic  river,  which  stretches 
two  miles  to  the  eastern  shore,  is  heard  the  booming  of  the 
broad  Atlantic  as  it  sweeps  in  its  might  and  majesty  from 
Greenland  to  the  Gulf.  Along  the  shining  beach,  from 
Fort  Fisher  to  Fort  Caswell,  its  foaming  breakers  run  and 
roar,  the  racing  steeds  of  iN'eptune,  with  their  white-crested 
manes,  charging  and  reforming  for  the  never-ending  fray. 

The  adjacent  plantation  of  Kendal,  originally  owned  by 
"King"  Roger  Moore,  from  whom  it  passed  to  his  descend- 
ants, was  later  the  property  of  James  Smith,  a  brother  of 
Gov.  Benjamin  Smith,  and  it  was  here,  near  the  banks  of 
Orton  Creek,  which  divides  this  estate  from  the  splendid 
domain  of  Orton,  that  the  quarrel  between  the  Smith  broth- 
ers ended  by  the  departure  of  James  to  South  Carolina 
(where,  assuming  his  mother's  name,  Rhett,  he  became  the 
founder  of  the  famous  Rhett  family),  leaving  his  intolerant 
and  choleric  brother,  Benjamin,  to  a  succession  of  misfor- 
tunes, disappointments,  and  distresses,  which  brought  him  at 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  61 

last  to  a  pauper's  grave.  Aide-de-camp  to  Washington,  a 
general  of  the  State  Militia,  a  governor  of  the  State,  a  bene- 
factor of  the  University — he  became  a  melancholy  example 
of  public  ingratitude. 

Behind  Kendal  is  McKenzie's  milldam,  the  scene  of  a 
battle  between  the  British  troops  and  the  minute  men  from 
Brunswick  and  Wilmington,  when,  in  1775,  the  British  fleet 
lay  in  the  river. 

We  linger  at  Orton,  the  most  attractive  of  all  the  old 
Colonial  estates  on  the  Cape  Fear.  For  a  hundred  and 
eighty-nine  years  it  has  survived  the  vicissitudes  of  war,  pes- 
tilence, and  famine,  and  it  still  maintains  its  reputation 
of  Colonial  days  for  a  refined  and  generous  hospitality. 
Here,  in  the  exhilaration  of  the  hunter,  the  restful  seclusion 
of  the  angler,  the  quiet  quest  of  the  naturalist,  the  peaceful 
contemplation  of  the  student,  is  found  surcease  from  the 
vanities  and  vexations  of  urban  life.  For  nearly  two  cen- 
turies it  has  been  a  haven  of  rest  and  recreation  to  its 
favored  guests. 

"Here,  like  the  hush  of  evening  calm  on  hearts  opprest, 

In  silence  falls  the  healing  balm  of  quiet  rest, 
And  softly  from  the  shadows  deep 
The  grand  oaks  sing  the  soul  to  sleep 
On  Nature's  breast." 

The  house,  or  Hall,  built  by  "King"  Eoger  Moore  in  1725, 
with  its  stately  white  pillars  gleaming  in  the  sunshine 
through  the  surrounding  forest,  is  a  most  pleasing  vista  to 
the  passing  mariner.  The  river  view,  stretching  for  ten 
miles  southward  and  eastward,  includes  "Big  Sugar  Loaf," 
Fort  Anderson,  Fort  Buchanan,  and  Fort  Fisher. 

We  love  its  traditions  and  its  memories,  for  no  sorrow 
came  to  us  there.  The  primeval  forest  with  its  dense  under- 
growth of  dogwood  blossoms,  which  shine  with  the  bright- 
ness of  the  falling  snow;  the  thickets  of  Cherokee  roses, 
which  surpass  the  most  beautiful  of  other  regions ;  the  bril- 
liant carpet  of  wild  azaleas,  the  golden  splendor  of  the 
yellow  jessamine,  the  modest  drosera,  the  man^elous  dionea 
mucipula,  and  the  trumpet  saracenias ;  the  river  drive  to  the 


62  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

white  beach,  from  which  are  seen  the  distant  breakers;  the 
secluded  spot  in  the  wilderness  commanding  a  wide  view 
of  an  exquisite  landscape,  where,  safe  from  intrusion,  we 
sat  upon  a  sheltered  seat  beneath  the  giant  pines  and  heard 
the  faint  "jo  ho"  of  the  sailor,  outward  bound ;  a  place  apart 
for  holy  contemplation  when  the  day  is  far  spent,  where  the 
overhanging  branches  cast  the  shadow  of  a  cross,  and  where, 
later,  through  the  interlacing  foliage,  the  star  of  hope  is 
shining;  the  joyful  reception  at  the  big  house,  the  spacious 
hall  with  its  ample  hearth  and  blazing  oak  logs ;  around  it, 
after  the  bountiful  evening  meal,  the  old  songs  sung  and  the 
old  tales  told,  and  fun  and  frolic  to  keep  dull  care  beyond 
the  threshold. 

Through  the  quiet  lanes  of  Orton  to  the  ruins  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Governor  Tryon's  palace  is  half  a  mile.  Here  is  the 
cradle  of  American  independence;  for  upon  this  spot,  until 
recently  hidden  by  a  dense  undergi'owth  of  timber,  occurred, 
between  six  and  seven  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  19th  of 
February,  1766,  the  first  open  resistance  to  the  British 
Stamp  Act  in  the  American  colonies,  by  450  armed  men, 
who  surrounded  the  palace  and  demanded  the  surrender  of 
the  custodian  of  the  obno:xious  symbols  of  the  King's  au- 
thority. 

Ten  minutos'  walk  farther  down  brings  us  to  the  ruins  of 
the  Colonial  Parish  Church  of  St.  Philip,  the  scene  of  many 
notable  incidents  and  the  resting  place  of  the  early  pioneers. 
It  was  built  by  the  citizens  of  Brunwick,  and,  principally, 
by  the  landed  gentry,  abo,ut  the  year  1740.  In  the  year 
1751,  Mr.  Lewis  Henry  DeRosset,  a  member  of  Gov.  Gabriel 
Johnston's  council,  and  subsequently  an  expatriated  Royalist, 
introduced  a  bill  appropriating  to  St.  Philip's  Church  at 
Brunswick  and  to  St.  James'  Church  at  Wilmington,  equally, 
a  fund  that  was  realized  by  the  capture  and  destruction 
of  a  pirate  vessel,  which,  in  a  squadron  of  Spanish  buc- 
caneers, had  entered  the  river  and  plundered  the  plantations. 
A  picture,  "Ecce  Homo,"  captured  from  this  pirate  ship, 
is  still  preserved  in  the  vestry  room  of  St.  James'  Church 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  63 

in  Wilmington.  The  walls  of  St.  PMlip's  Churcli  are 
nearly  three  feet  thick,  and  are  solid  and  almost  intact 
still,  while  the  roof  and  floor  have  disappeared.  It  must 
have  possessed  much  architectural  beauty  and  massive 
grandeur,  with  its  high-pitched  roof,  its  lofty  doors,  and  its 
beautiful  chancel  windows. 

A  little  to  the  west,  surrounded  by  a  forest  of  pines,  lies 
Liberty  Pond,  a  beautiful  lake  of  clear  spring  water,  once 
stained  with  the  blood  of  friend  and  foe  in  a  deadly  conflict 
— hence  its  traditional  name.  It  is  now  a  most  restful,  tran- 
quil spot,  with  its  profound  stillness,  the  beach  of  snow 
white  sand,  the  unbroken  surface  of  the  lake  reflecting  the 
foliage  and  the  changing  sky  line. 

Turning  to  the  southeast,  we  leave  the  woodland  and  reach 
a  bluff  upon  the  river  bank,  still  known  as  Howe's  Point, 
where  the  Eevolutionary  patriot  and  soldier.  Gen.  Eobert 
Howe,  was  bom  and  reared.  His  residence,  long  since  a 
ruin,  was  a  large  frame  building  on  a  stone  or  brick  founda- 
tion, still  remembered  as  such  by  several  aged  citizens  of 
Brunswick. 

A  short  distance  from  the  Howe  place,  the  writer  found 
some  years  ago,  in  the  woods  and  upon  a  commanding  site 
near  the  river,  under  many  layers  of  pine  straw,  the  clearly 
defined  ruins  of  an  ancient  fort,  which  was  undoubtedly  of 
Colonial  origin.  Mr.  Keynolds,  who  lived  at  his  place 
near  by,  said  that  his  great  grandfather  informed  him  forty 
years  ago  that  long  before  the  War  of  the  Revolution  this 
fort  was  erected  by  the  Colonial  Government  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  colonists  against  buccaneers. 

Hence  to  the  staid  old  county  seat  is  a  journey  of  an  hour; 
it  was  originally  known  as  Fort  Johnston,  a  fortification 
named  for  the  Colonial  Governor,  Gabriel  Johnston.  It 
was  established  about  the  year  1748  for  the  protection  of  the 
river  settlement  from  the  threatened  attacks  of  the  Spaniards. 
The  adjacent  hamlet  was  subsequently  called  Smith ville,  in 
honor  of  Benjamin  Smith,  to  whom  reference  has  been  made, 
who  had  behaved  with  conspicuous  gallantry  under  Moultrie 


64  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

when  lie  drove  the  British  from  Port  Royal,  and  who  was 
subsequently  elected  fifteen  times  to  the  Senate  and  became 
Governor  of  the  Commonwealth  in  1810.  By  recent  au- 
thority of  the  State  Legislature  the  name  has  been  changed 
to  Southport,  In  the  old  courthouse,  which  is  its  principal 
building,  may  be  seen  the  evidence  that  on  the  death  of  Mr. 
Allen,  the  17th  of  January,  1749,  aged  57  years,  of  Lilliput, 
where  he  was  buried,  that  plantation  became  the  property 
(and,  it  is  said,  the  residence  for  a  brief  period)  of  the  great- 
grandson  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  Sir  Thomas  Frankland,  Ad- 
miral of  the  White  in  the  British  Navy,  and  Commander  of 
the  frigate  Rose. 

In  connection  with  the  inscription  on  Chief  Justice 
Allen's  tomb — that  he  died  in  January,  1749 — it  is  to  be 
noted  that  in  December,  1749,  he  was  acting  as  Chief  Justice. 
At  that  period  the  calendar  year  began  and  ended  in  March, 
so  that  January,  1749,  followed  December  of  that  year.  The 
alteration  in  the  calendar  was  made  by  Act  of  Parliament  in 
1751.  ^ 

(JETON. 

A  stately  mansion  girt  by  God's  great  woods, 

Each  clod  of  earth  a  friend  to  me  and  mine. 

Each  room  a  home  within  the  one  vast  home, 

Where  naught  of  all  its  perfect  pomp 

Can  mar  the  sweet  simplicity  and  ease  of  entertainment. 

There  dwells  the  warmth  of  generous  hospitality 

That  counts  no  act  a  favor  and  no  gift  a  sacrifice. 

There  sordid  things  and  anxious  cares  come  not. 

No  strangers'  words  or  presence  there  intrude. 

There  love  of  life — clean,  wholesome,  healthful  life — prevails. 

And  there  the  peace  of  God  pervades 

Each  hour  of  perfect  day  and  night. 

One  day  within  its  woods, 

One  night  beneath  its  roof, 

To  tired  body  gives  a  newborn  vigor. 

To  wearied  mind  a  keen  creative  power. 

To  the  soul  a  sense  of  clean,  sweet  peace, 

And  to  the  hour  of  regretful  leaving 

A  loving  and  lasting  benediction. 

Rev.  Richard  W.  Eogue. 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  65 

LIBRARIES  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAR. 

It  is  to  be  much  regretted  that  so  few  memorials  of  the 
social  and  intellectual  life  of  the  old  Cape  Fear  people  have 
been  preserved.  They  enjoyed  the  elegance  that  attends 
wealth  and  they  possessed  libraries  that  bespeak  culture. 

When  Edward  Moseley  was  passing  through  Charleston  in 
1703,  he  was  employed  to  make  a  catalogue  of  the  library 
books  there ;  and,  on  locating  in  Albemarle,  he  at  once  began 
the  collection  of  a  library.  Later,  he  presented  a  library  to 
the  town  of  Edenton.  When,  about  1735,  he  removed  to 
Rocky  Point  and  built  Moseley  Hall,  he  brought  his  library 
with  him. 

But,  perhaps,  superior  to  Moseley's  was  the  library  of 
Eleazar  Allen,  at  Lilliput.  The  inventory  of  this  collection 
of  books  has  been  preserved.  Made  at  his  death,  about  1749, 
it  shows  over  three  hundred  volumes  in  English  and  Latin, 
including  the  standard  works  of  that  era — the  classics, 
poetry,  history,  works  of  fiction,  as  well  as  works  of  a  re- 
ligious nature;  and  then,  besides,  some  fifty  in  French,  not 
only  histories,  travels,  poetry,  and  fiction,  but  also  French 
translations  of  the  most  celebrated  Latin  authors.  One  finds 
in  that  atmosphere  a  culture  unsurpassed  elsewhere  in 
America. 

The  Hasells  likewise  had  a  good  library;  also  Judge 
Maurice  Moore;  and  Gen.  John  Ashe  had  one  he  prized 
so  highly  that  he  made  special  efforts  to  preserve  it,  but  un- 
fortunately it  was  destroyed  during  the  last  year  of  the 
Revolutionary  War. 

While  there  were  libraries  at  the  homes  of  the  gentlemen 
in  the  country,  at  Wilmington  there  was  the  Cape  Fear 
Library,  one  volume  of  which,  at  least,  has  been  preserved — 
a  volume  of  Shakespeare,  with  notes  made  by  Archibald 
Maclaine,  of  Wilmington,  a  nephew  of  the  historian  Mosher, 
which  are  of  unusual  merit.  Many  of  the  Rocky  Point 
books  appear  to  have  been  collected  at  Lillington  Hall,  and 
others  have  been  preserved  in  the  Hasell  collection.     A  part 


6Q  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

of  tlie  Hasell  collection,  embracing  books  of  Moseley  printed 
before  1700,  of  Alexander  Lillington,  and  of  others,  have 
been  placed  in  the  State  Library  at  Raleigh. 


THE  PROVmCIAL  PORT  OF  BRUNSWICK. 

I  have  before  me  the  original  book  of  entries  and  clear- 
ances of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  Custom  House  at  the  port  of 
Brunswick,  in  the  Province  of  North  Carolina,  beginning 
with  A.  D.  1773,  in  the  reign  of  George  III,  and  running 
for  three  years.  It  is  strongly  bound  in  leather,  somewhat 
injured  by  abuse  for  other  purposes  during  Revolutionary 
times,  but  it  contains  in  fine,  legible  handwriting,  wonder- 
fully well  preserved,  a  record  of  over  three  hundred  vessels, 
with  the  particulars  of  their  cargoes  and  crews.  Among  the 
names  of  the  trading  vessels,  some  of  which  are  remarkable, 
are  the  brig  Orton,  the  brig  Wilmington,  and  the  schooner 
Bakes  Delight. 

Some  of  the  cargoes  are  significant;  20  negroes,  50  hogs- 
heads of  rum,  1,000  bags  salt,  etc.  The  outward  cargoes  to 
ports  in  the  Provinces,  to  the  West  Indies,  and  to  London, 
Bristol,  and  other  distant  destinations,  were  mostly  lumber, 
staves,  tar,  indigo,  rice,  corn,  wheat,  and  tobacco. 

The  full-rigged  ship  Ulysses,  Captain  Wilson,  brought 
from  Glasgow,  Scotland,  October  18,  1773,  to  Brunswick, 
furniture,  leather,  saddles,  earthenware,  shoes,  linen,  hats, 
gunpowder,  silks,  glass,  iron,  lead,  and  "shott,"  also  port  wine, 
rugs,  toys,  and  household  articles. 

Other  Scotch  brigs,  notably  the  Baliol,  brought  many  set- 
tlers to  the  Cape  Fear,  most  of  whom  went  farther  up  to 
Cross  Creek,  now  Fayetteville.  Among  these  was  the  dis- 
tinguished lady.  Flora  Macdonald. 

There  are  no  available  records  of  trade  and  commerce  per- 
taining to  Brunswick  or  to  the  new  settlement  at  Wilming- 
ton. It  appears,  however,  that  many  of  the  plantations 
established   sawmills   from   which   lumber,    along  with   the 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  67 

products  of  the  farms,  was  shipped  in  plantation  "brigs  and 
schooners  to  distant  ports.  At  Orton  a  large  sawmill  was 
run  by  water  power,  and  vessels  were  loaded  in  the  river 
opposite  the  mill  with  lumber,  rice,  and  indigo. 


THE  STAMP  ACT  ON  THE  CAPE  PEAR. 

(Extracts  from  an  Address  Delivered  by  Captain  S.  A.  Ashe  before  the  North 
Carolina  Society  of  Colonial  Dames  at  Old  Brunswick,  N.  C.) 

But  when  the  next  year  a  bill  was  introduced  to  carry  the 
resolution  into  effect,  it  met  with  considerable  opposition 
in  the  House  of  Commons,  for  the  protests  of  the  Colonists 
were  not  unheeded.  Still,  the  ministry,  under  Lord  Bute, 
persisted,  and  the  measure  was  carried.  All  America  was 
at  once  stirred.  Bold  and  courageous  action  was  taken  in 
every  Colony,  but  in  none  was  a  more  resolute  spirit  mani- 
fested than  here  upon  the  Cape  Pear.  The  Governor  was 
Tryon,  who  had  but  lately  succeeded  to  that  office.  He  was 
an  officer  of  the  Army,  a  gentleman  by  birth  and  education, 
a  man  calculated  by  his  accomplishments  and  social  qualities 
to  shine  in  any  community.  He  sought  the  Speaker  of  the 
House,  and  asked  him  what  would  be  the  action  of  the 
people.  "Eesistance  to  the  death,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 
That  was  a  warning  that  was  full  of  meaning.  It  pledged 
the  Speaker  to  revolution  and  war  in  defense  of  the  people's 
rights. 

The  Assembly  was  to  meet  in  May,  1Y65.  But  Tryon 
astutely  postponed  the  meeting  until  IsTovember,  and  then 
dissolved  the  Assembly.  He  did  not  wish  the  members  to 
meet,  confer,  consult,  and  arrange  a  plan  of  opposition.  He 
hoped  by  dealing  with  gentlemen,  not  in  an  official  capacity, 
to  disarm  their  antagonism  and  persuade  them  to  a  milder 
course.  Vain  delusion !  The  people  had  been  too  long 
trained  to  rely  with  confidence  on  their  leaders  to  abandon 
them  now,  even  though  Parliament  demanded  their  obedi- 
ence. 

The  first  movement  was  not  long  delayed.     Within  two 


68  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

montlis  after  the  news  had  come  that  the  odious  act  had  been 
passed,  the  people  of  North  Carolina  discarded  from  their 
use  all  clothes  of  British  manufacture  and  set  up  looms  for 
weaving  their  o^vn  clothes.  Since  Great  Britain  was  to 
oppress  them,  thej  would  give  the  world  an  assurance  of  the 
spirit  of  independence  that  would  sustain  them  in  the  strug- 
gle. In  October  information  was  received  that  Doctor 
Houston,  of  Duplin  County,  had  been  selected  in  England 
as  Stamp-Master.  At  once  proceedings  were  taken  to  nul- 
lify the  appointment.  At  that  time  Wilmington  had  less 
than  500  white  inhabitants,  but  her  citizens  were  very 
patriotic  and  very  resolute. 

Rocky  Point,  fifteen  miles  to  the  northward,  had  been  the 
residence  of  Maurice  Moore,  of  Speaker  Moseley,  Speaker 
Swann,  and  Speaker  Ashe,  Alexander  Lillington,  John 
Swann,  George  Moore,  John  Porter,  Colonel  Jones,  Colonel 
Merrick,  and  other  gentlemen  of  influence.  It  was  the  center 
from  which  had  radiated  the  influences  that  directed  popu- 
lar movements.  iTearer  to  Onslow,  Duplin,  and  Bladen, 
than  Wilming-ton  was,  and  the  residence  of  the  Speaker  and 
other  active  leaders,  it  was  doubtless  there  that  plans  were 
considered,  and  proceedings  agreed  upon  that  involved  the 
united  action  of  all  the  neighboring  counties.  At  Wil- 
mington and  vicinity,  were  Harnett,  DeKosset,  Toomer, 
Walker,  Clayton,  Gregg,  Purviance,  Eustace,  Maclaine,  and 
DuBois ;  while  near  by  were  Howe,  Smith,  Davis,  Grange, 
Ancrum,  and  a  score  of  others  of  the  loftiest  patriotism.  All 
were  in  full  accord  with  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly;  all 
were  nerved  by  the  same  spirit;  all  resolved  to  carry  re- 
sistance, if  need  be,  to  the  point  of  blood  and  death. 

We  fortunately  have  a  contemporaneous  record  of  some 
of  their  proceedings.  "On  Saturday,  the  19th  of  last  month," 
says  the  North  Carolina  Gazette,  published  at  Wilmington, 
in  its  issue  of  ISTovember  20,  1765 : 

About  7  o'clock  in  the  evening,  near  five  hundred  people  as- 
sembled together  in  this  town  and  exhibited  the  effigy  of  a  certain 
honorable  gentleman;  and  after  letting  it  hang  by  the  neck  for 
some  time,  near  the  courthouse  they  made  a  large  bonfire  with  a 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  69 

number  of  tar  barrels  etc.,  and  committed  it  to  the  flames.  The 
reason  assigned  for  the  people's  dislike  to  that  gentleman  was  from 
being  informed  of  his  having  several  times  expressed  himself  much 
in  favor  of  the  Stamp  Duty.  After  the  effigy  was  consumed,  they 
went  to  every  house  in  town,  and  brought  all  the  gentlemen  to  the 
bonfire,  and  insisted  on  their  drinking  "Liberty,  Property,  and  No 
Stamp  Duty,"  and  "Confusion  to  Lord  Bute  and  all  his  adherents"; 
giving  three  huzzahs  at  the  conclusion  of  each  toast.  They  con- 
tinued together  until  12  of  the  clock,  and  then  dispersed  without 
doing  any  mischief. 

Doubtless  it  was  a  very  orderly  crowd,  since  the  editor 
sajs  so.  A  very  orderly,  harmless,  inoffensive  gathering; 
patriotic,  and  given  to  hurrahing;  but  we  are  assured  that 
they  dispersed  without  any  mischief. 

And  continues  the  same  paper : 

On  Thursday,  the  31st  of  the  same  month,  in  the  evening,  a  great 
number  of  people  assembled  again,  and  produced  an  effigy  of  Liberty, 
which  they  put  in  a  coffin  and  marched  in  solemn  procession  with 
it  to  the  churchyard,  a  drum  in  mourning  beating  before  them,  and 
the  town  bell,  muffled,  ringing  a  doleful  knell  at  the  same  time;  but 
before  they  committed  the  body  to  the  ground,  they  thought  it  ad- 
visable to  feel  its  pulse,  and,  finding  some  remains  of  life,  they  re- 
turned back  to  a  bonfire  ready  prepared,  placed  the  effigy  before  it 
in  a  large  two-armed  chair,  and  concluded  the  evening  with  great 
rejoicings  on  finding  that  Liberty  had  still  an  existence  in  the 
Colonies. 

Not  the  least  injury  was  offered  to  any  person. 

The  editor  of  that  paper,  Mr.  Stewart,  was  apparently 
anxious  to  let  his  readers  know  that  the  people  engaged  in 
these  proceedings  were  the  very  soul  of  order  and  the 
essence  of  moderation.  So  far  they  had  done  no  mischief 
and  offered  no  injury  to  anyone.  But  still  they  had  teeth, 
and  they  co,uld  show  them.  Ill  fared  any  man  who  stood 
in  their  way. 

The  next  item  reads: 

Saturday,  the  16th  of  this  instant,  that  is  November:  William 
Houston,  Esq.,  distributor  of  stamps  for  this  Province,  came  to  this 
town;  upon  which  three  or  four  hundred  people  immediately  gath- 
ered together,  with  drums  beating  and  colors  flying,  and  repaired  to 
the  house  the  said  Stamp-Master  put  up  at,  and  insisted  upon  know- 
ing "Whether  he  intended  to  execute  his  said  office  or  not."  He  told 
them,  "He  should  be  very  sorry  to  execute  any  office  disagreeable  to 
the   people   of  this   Province."     But   they,    not   content   with   such 


70  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

declaration,  carried  him  into  the  courthouse,  where  he  signed  a 
resignation  satisfactory  to  the  whole.  They  then  placed  the  Stamp- 
Master  in  an  armchair,  carried  him  around  the  courthouse,  giving 
at  every  corner  three  loud  huzzahs,  and  finally  set  him  down  at  the 
door  of  his  lodging,  formed  a  circle  around  him  and  gave  three 
cheers.  They  then  escorted  him  into  the  house,  where  were  pre- 
pared the  best  liquors,  and  treated  him  very  genteelly.  In  the  even- 
ing a  large  bonfire  was  made  and  no  person  appeared  on  the  streets 
without  having  "Liberty"  in  large  capital  letters  on  his  hat  They 
had  a  table  near  the  bonfire  well  furnished  with  several  sorts  of 
liquors,  where  they  drank,  in  great  form,  all  the  favorite  American 
Toasts,  giving  three  cheers  at  the  conclusion  of  each. 

"The  whole  was  conducted,"  says  the  editor,  "with  great 
decorum,  and  not  the  least  insult  offered  to  any  person." 

This  enforced  resignation  of  the  Stamp-Master  was  done 
under  the  direction  of  Alderman  DeRosset,  who  received 
from  Houston  his  commission  and  other  papers,  and  neces- 
sarily it  was  a  very  orderly  performance.  The  ringing 
huzzas,  the  patriotic  toasts,  the  loud  acclaim,  echoing  from 
the  courthouse  square,  reverberated  through  the  streets  of 
the  town,  but  Mr.  Stewart  is  quite  sure  that  no  mischief  was 
done,  and  not  the  least  insult  was  offered  to  any  person. 
These  and  other  similar  proceedings  led  the  Governor  to 
send  out  a  circular  letter  to  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the 
Cape  Fear  region,  requesting  their  presence  at  a  dinner  at 
his  residence  at  Brunswick  on  Tuesday,  the  19th  of  Novem- 
ber, three  days  after  Dr.  Houston  resigned ;  and  after  the 
dinner,  he  conferred  with  these  gentlemen  about  the  Stamp 
Act.  He  found  them  fully  determined  to  annul  the  Act,  and 
prevent  its  going  into  effect.  He  sought  to  persuade  them, 
and  begged  them  to  let  it  be  observed  at  least  in  part.  He 
pleaded  that  if  they  would  let  the  Act  go  into  partial  opera- 
tion in  the  respects  he  mentioned,  he  himself  would  pay  for  all 
the  stamps  necessary.  It  seems  that  he  liked  the  people, 
and  they  liked  and  admired  him,  and  difficult  indeed  was  his 
position.  He  was  charged  with  the  execution  of  a  law  which 
he  knew  could  not  be  executed,  for  there  was  not  enough 
specie  in  the  Province  to  buy  the  necessary  stamps,  even  if 
the  law  could  be  enforced ;  but,  then,  the  people  were  re- 
solved against  recognizing  it  in  any  degree.     The  authority 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  71 

of  the  King  and  of  the  Parliament  was  defied,  and  he,  the 
representative  of  the  British  Government,  was  powerless  in 
the  face  of  this  resolute  defiance.  While  still  maintaining 
dignity  in  his  intercourse  with  the  people,  the  Governor 
wrote  to  his  superiors  in  London  strongly  urging  the  repeal 
of  the  law.  A  week  later,  the  stamps  arrived  in  the  sloop  of 
war  Diligence.  They  remained  on  the  sloop  and  were  not 
landed  at  that  time. 

Now  was  there  a  lull ;  but  the  quietude  was  not  to  remain 
unbroken.  In  January  two  merchant  vessels  arrived  in  the 
harbor,  the  Patience  and  the  Dohhs.  Their  clearance  papers 
were  not  stamped  as  the  Act  required.  The  vessels  were 
seized  and  detained  while  the  lawfulness  of  their  detention 
was  referred  to  the  Attorney-General,  Eobert  Jones,  then 
absent  at  his  home  on  the  Eoanoke.  But  the  leaders  of  the 
people  were  determined  not  to  submit  to  an  adverse  decision. 
They  held  meetings  and  agreed  on  a  plan  of  action. 

In  view  of  the  crisis,  on  January  20th,  the  Mayor  of  the 
town  retired  to  give  place  to  Moses  John  DeEosset,  who  had 
been  the  foremost  leader  in  the  action  previously  taken  by  the 
town.  One  whose  spirit  never  quailed  was  now  to  stand 
forth  as  the  head  of  the  Corporation. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  Captain  Lobb,  in  command  of 
the  Viper,  had  made  a  requisition  for  an  additional  supply  of 
provisions,  and  Mr.  Dry,  the  contractor,  sent  his  boat  to 
Wilmington  to  obtain  them.  The  inhabitants,  led  by  the 
Mayor,  at  once  seized  the  boat,  threw  the  crew  into  the  jail, 
and,  in  a  wild  tumult  of  excitement,  placed  the  boat  on  a 
wagon  and  hauled  it  through  the  streets  with  great  demon- 
stration of  fervid  patriotism.  The  British  forces  on  the 
river  were  to  receive  no  supplies  from  Wilmington;  their 
provisions  were  cut  off,  and  they  were  treated  as  enemies — 
not  friends — so  long  as  they  supported  the  odious  law  of  Par- 
liament. Ten  days  later  came  the  opinion  of  the  Attorney- 
General  to  the  effect  that  the  detained  merchantmen  were 
properly  seized  and  were  liable  to  be  confiscated  under  the 
law.     This  was  the  signal  for  action.     The  news  was  spread 


72  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

throughout  the  counties,  and  the  whole  country  was  astir. 
Every  patriot  "was  on  his  legs."  There  was  no  halt  in 
carrying  into  effect  the  plan  agreed  upon.  Immediately  the 
people  began  to  assemble,  and  detachments,  under  chosen 
leaders,  took  up  their  march  from  Onslow,  Bladen,  and 
Duplin.  On  the  18th  of  February,  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Cape  Fear  counties,  being  then  assembled  at  Wilmington, 
entered  into  an  association,  which  they  signed,  declaring 
they  preferred  death  to  slavery;  and  mutually  and  solemnly 
they  plighted  their  faith  and  honor  that  they  would  at  any 
risk  whatever,  and  whenever  called  upon,  unite,  and  truly 
and  faithfully  assist  each  other,  to  the  best  of  their  power, 
in  preventing  entirely  the  operation  of  the  Stamp  Act. 

The  crisis  had  now  arrived.  The  hand  of  destiny  had 
struck  with  a  bold  stroke  the  resounding  bell.  The  people, 
nobly  responding,  had  seized  their  arms.  At  all  times, 
when  some  patriot  is  to  throw  himself  to  the  front  and  bid 
defiance  to  the  established  authority  of  Government,  there 
is  a  Rubicon  to  be  crossed  and  he  who  unsheathes  his  sword 
to  resist  the  law  must  win  success  or  meet  a  traitor's  doom. 
But  the  leaders  on  the  Cape  Fear  did  not  hesitate  at  the 
thought  of  personal  peril.  At  their  call,  the  people,  being 
armed  and  assembled  at  Wilmington,  chose  the  men  who 
were  to  guide,  govern,  and  direct  them.  They  called  to  the 
helm  John  Ashe,  the  trusted  Speaker  of  the  Assembly,  and 
associated  with  him  Alexander  Lillington  and  Col.  Thomas 
Lloyd,  as  a  Directory  to  manage  their  affairs  at  this  mo- 
mentous crisis.  Their  movement  was  not  that  of  an  irre- 
sponsible mob.  It  was  an  orderly  proceeding,  pursuant  to 
a  determined  plan  of  action,  under  the  direction  of  the  high- 
est officer  of  the  Province,  who  was  charged  with  maintaining 
the  liberties  of  the  people.  In  effect,  it  was  the  institution 
and  ordaining  of  a  temporary  government. 

It  was  resolved  to  organize  an  armed  force  and  march  to 
Brunswick,  and  Col.  Hugh  Waddell  was  invested  with  the 
command  of  the  military.  Let  us  pause  a  moment  and  take 
a  view  of  the  situation  at  that  critical  juncture.     Close  to 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  73 

Brunswick  in  his  mansion,  was  Governor  Tryon,  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  King;  no  coward  he,  but  resolute,  a  mili- 
tary man  of  experience  and  courage.  In  the  town  itself 
were  the  residences  and  offices  of  Colonel  Dry,  the  collector  of 
the  port,  and  of  other  officers  of  the  Crown.  Off  in  the 
river  lay  the  detained  merchant  vessels  and  the  two  sloops  of 
war,  the  Viper,  commanded  by  Captain  Lobb,  and  the  Dili- 
gence, commanded  by  Captain  Phipps,  whose  bristling  guns, 
26  in  number,  securely  kept  them;  while  Fort  Johnston, 
some  miles  away,  well  armed  with  artillery,  was  held  by  a 
small  garrison.  At  every  point  flew  the  meteor  flag  of 
Great  Britain.  Every  point  was  protected  by  the  aegis  of 
his  Sacred  Majesty.  For  a  subject  to  lift  his  hand  in  a  hos- 
tile manner  against  any  of  these  was  treason  and  rebellion. 
Yes,  treason  and  rebellion,  with  the  fearful  punishment  of 
attainder  and  death — of  being  hanged  and  quartered. 

Well  might  the  eloquent  Davis  exclaim,  "Beware,  John 
Ashe:  Hugh  Waddell,  take  heed!" 

Their  lives,  their  fortunes  were  at  hazard  and  the  dishon- 
ored grave  was  open  to  receive  their  dismembered  bodies! 
But  patriots  as  they  were,  they  did  take  care — not  for  them- 
selves, but  for  the  liberties  of  their  country.  At  high  noon, 
on  the  19th  day  of  February,  the  three  Directors,  the  Mayor 
and  Corporation  of  Wilmington,  the  embodied  soldiery,  and 
the  prominent  citizens,  moved  forward,  crossed  the  river, 
passed  like  Caesar  the  fateful  Eubicon,  and  courageously 
marched  to  the  scene  of  possible  conflict.  It  was  not  only 
the  Governor  with  whom  they  had  to  deal,  but  the  ships  of 
war  with  their  formidable  batteries,  that  held  possession  of 
the  detained  vessels.  It  was  not  merely  the  penalties  of 
the  law  that  threatened  them,  but  they  courted  death  at  the 
cannon's  mo.uth,  in  conflict  with  the  heavily  armed  sloops  of 
war,  from  whose  power  they  had  come  to  wrest  the  mer- 
chantmen.    But  there  was  neither  halt  nor  hesitation. 

As  they  crossed  the  river,  a  chasm  yawned  deep  and  wide, 
separating  them  from  their  loyal  past.  Behind  them  they 
left  their  allegiance  as  loyal  British  subjects,  before  them 


74  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

was  rebellion — open,  flagrant  war,  leading  to  revolution. 
Who  could  tell  what  the  ending  might  be  of  the  anticipated 
conflict ! 

There  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  Cape  Fear  were  gathered, 
in  their  cocked  hats,  their  long  queues,  their  knee-breeches 
and  shining  shoe  buckles.  Mounted  on  their  well-groomed 
horses,  they  made  a  famous  cavalcade  as  they  wound  their 
way  through  the  sombre  pine  forests  that  hedged  in  the 
highway  to  old  Brunswick.  Among  them  was  DeRosset,  the 
mayor,  in  the  prime  of  manhood,  of  French  descent,  with 
keen  eye,  fine  culture,  and  high  intelligence,  who  had  been  a 
soldier  with  Innes  at  the  Xorth ;  bold  and  resolved  was  he  as 
he  rode,  surrounded  by  Cornelius  Harnett,  Frederick  Gregg, 
John  Sampson,  and  the  other  aldermen  and  officers  of  the 
town. 

At  the  head  of  a  thousand  armed  men,  arranged  in  com- 
panies, and  marching  in  order,  was  the  experienced  soldier, 
Hugh  Waddell,  not  yet  thirty-three  years  of  age,  but  already 
renowned  for  his  capacity  and  courage.  He  had  won  more 
distinction  and  honors  in  the  late  wars  at  the  North  and 
West  than  any  other  Southern  soldier,  save  only  George 
Washington  ;  and  now  in  command  of  his  companies,  officered 
by  men  who  had  been  trained  in  discipline  in  the  war,  he 
was  confident  of  the  issue.  Of  Irish  descent,  and  coming  of 
a  fighting  stock,  his  blood  was  up,  and  his  heroic  soul  was 
aflame  for  the  fray. 

Surrounded  by  a  bevy  of  his  kinsmen,  the  venerable  Sam 
and  John  Swann;  and  his  brothers-in-law,  James,  George, 
and  Maurice  Moore ;  by  his  brother,  Sam  Ashe,  and  Alexan- 
der Lilliugion,  whose  burly  forms  towered  high  above  the 
others;  by  Home,  Davis,  Colonel  Lloyd,  and  other  gallant 
spirits,  was  the  Speaker,  John  Ashe,  now  just  forty-five  years 
of  age,  on  whom  the  responsibility  of  giving  directions 
chiefly  lay.  Of  medium  stature,  well  knit,  olive  com- 
plexion, and  with  a  lustrous  hazel  eye,  he  was  full  of  nervous 
energy — an  orator  of  surpassing  power,  of  elegant  carriage 
and   commanding   presence.     Of   him   Mr.    Strudwick   has 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  75 

said:  "That  there  were  not  four  men  in  London  his  intel- 
lectual superior,"  and  that  at  a  time  when  Pitt,  Fox,  Burke, 
and  others  of  that  splendid  galaxy  of  British  orators  and 
statesmen  gave  lustre  to  British  annals. 

How,  on  this  momentous  occasion,  the  spirits  of  these 
men  and  of  their  kinsmen  and  friends  who  gathered  around, 
must  have  soared  as  they  pressed  on,  resolved  to  maintain 
the  chartered  rights  of  their  country !  Animated  by  the 
noble  impulses  of  a  lofty  patriotism,  with  their  souls  ele- 
vated by  the  inspiring  emotions  of  a  perilous  struggle  for 
their  liberties,  they  moved  forward  with  a  resolute  purpose 
to  sacrifice  their  lives  rather  than  tamely  submit  to  the 
oppressive  and  odious  enactments  of  the  British  Parliament. 

It  was  nightfall  before  they  reached  the  vicinity  of  Bruns- 
wick, and  George  Moore  and  Cornelius  Harnett,  riding  in 
advance,  presented  to  Grovernor  Tryon  a  letter  from  the  Gov- 
erning Directory,  notifying  him  of  their  purpose.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  Governor's  residence  was  surrounded,  and  Cap- 
tain Lobb  was  inquired  for — but  he  was  not  there.  A  party 
was  then  dispatched  towards  Fort  Johnston,  and  thereupon 
Tryon  notified  the  British  JSTaval  Commanders  and  re- 
quested them  to  protect  the  Fort,  repelling  force  with  force. 
In  the  meantime,  a  party  of  gentlemen  called  on  the  Col- 
lector, Mr.  Dry,  who  had  the  papers  of  the  ship  Patience; 
and  in  his  presence  broke  open  his  desk  and  took  them  away. 
This  gave  an  earnest  of  the  resolute  purpose  of  the  people. 
They  purposed  to  use  all  violence  that  was  necessary  to 
carry  out  their  desig-ns.  Eealizing  the  full  import  of  the 
situation,  the  following  noon  a  conference  of  the  King's 
officers  was  held  on  the  Yiper,  and  Captain  Lobb,  confident 
of  his  strength,  declared  to  the  Governor  that  he  would  hold 
the  ship  Patience  and  insist  on  the  return  of  her  papers.  If 
the  people  were  resolved,  so  were  the  officers  of  the  Govern- 
ment. The  sovereignty  of  Great  Britain  was  to  be  enforced. 
There  was  to  be  no  temporizing  with  the  rebels.  The  honor 
of  the  Government  demanded  that  the  British  flag  should  not 
droop  in  the  face  of  this  hostile  array.     But  two  short  hours 


76  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

later,  a  party  of  the  insurgents  came  aboard  and  requested 
to  see  Captain  Lobb.  They  entered  the  cabin,  and  there, 
under  the  royal  flag,  surrounded  by  the  King's  forces,  they 
demanded  that  all  efforts  to  enforce  the  Stamp  Act  cease. 
They  would  allow  no  opposition.  In  the  presence  of  Ashe, 
Waddell,  DeRosset,  Harnett,  Moore,  Howe,  and  Lillington, 
the  spirit  of  Captain  Lobb  quailed.  The  people  won.  In 
the  evening  the  British  commander,  much  to  the  Governor's 
disgust,  reported  to  that  functionary,  "That  all  was  settled." 
Yes.  All  had  been  settled.  The  vessels  were  released ;  the 
grievances  were  redressed.  The  restrictions  on  the  commerce 
of  the  Cape  Fear  were  removed.  The  attempt  to  enforce 
the  Stamp  Act  had  failed  before  the  prompt,  vigorous,  and 
courageous  action  of  the  inhabitants.  After  that,  vessels 
could  come  and  go  as  if  there  had  been  no  act  of  Parliament. 
The  people  had  been  victorious  over  the  King's  ships;  with 
arms  in  their  hands,  they  had  won  the  victory. 

But  the  work  was  not  all  finished.  There,  on  the  Dili- 
gence, were  the  obnoxious  stamps,  and  by  chance  some  loyal 
officer  of  the  Government  might  use  them.  To  guard  against 
that,  the  officers  were  to  be  forced  to  swear  not  to  obey  the 
Act  of  Parliament,  but  to  observe  the  will  of  the  people.  Mr. 
Pennington  was  his  Majesty's  controller,  and  understand- 
ing that  the  people  sought  him,  he  took  refuge  in  the  Gov- 
ernor's Mansion,  and  was  given  a  bed  and  made  easy,  but 
early  the  next  morning,  Col.  James  Moore  called  to  get  him. 
The  Governor  interfered,  to  prevent;  and  immediately  the 
Mansion  was  surrounded  by  the  insurgent  troops,  and  the 
Directory  notified  the  Governor,  in  writing,  that  they  re- 
quested His  Excellency  to  let  Mr.  Pennington  attend,  other- 
wise it  would  not  be  "in  the  power  of  the  Directors  ap- 
pointed to  prevent  the  ill  consequences  that  would  attend  a 
refusal."  In  plain  language,  said  John  Ashe,  "Persist  in 
your  refusal,  and  we  will  come  and  take  him."  The  Gov- 
ernor declined  to  comply.  In  a  few  moments  he  observed  a 
body  of  nearly  five  hundred  men  move  towards  his  house. 
A  detachment  of  sixty  entered  his  avenue.     Cornelius  Har- 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  77 

nett  accompanied  them,  and  sent  word  that  he  wished  to 
speak  with  Mr.  Pennington.  The  Governor  replied  that 
Mr.  Pennington  was  protected  by  his  house.  Harnett  there- 
upon notified  the  Governor  that  the  people  would  come  in 
and  take  him  out  of  the  house,  if  longer  detained.  Now  the 
point  was  reached.  The  people  were  ready;  the  Governor 
was  firm.  But  Pennington  wisely  suggested  that  he  would 
resign,  and  immediately  wrote  his  resignation  and  delivered 
it  to  the  Governor —  and  then  he  went  out  with  Harnett  and 
was  brought  here  to  Brunswick,  and  required  to  take  an  oath 
never  to  issue  any  stamped  paper  in  IsTorth  Carolina ;  so  was 
Mr.  Dry,  the  collector ;  and  so  all  the  clerks  of  the  County 
Courts,  and  other  public  officers.  Every  officer  in  all  that 
region,  except  alone  the  Governor,  was  forced  to  obey  the  will 
of  the  people  and  swear  not  to  obey  the  Act  of  Parliament. 

On  the  third  day  after  the  first  assemblage  at  Wilming- 
ton, on  the  18th,  the  Directors,  having  completed  their  work 
at  Brunswick,  took  up  the  line  of  march  to  return.  With 
what  rejoicing  they  turned  their  backs  on  the  scene  of  their 
bloodless  triumph.  It  had  been  a  time  of  intense  excitement. 
It  had  been  no  easy  task  to  hold  more  than  a  thousand  hot 
and  zealous  patriots  well  in  hand,  and  to  accomplish  their 
purposes  without  bloodshed.  Wisdom  and  courage  by  the 
Directors,  and  prudence,  foresight,  and  sagacity  on  the  part 
of  the  military  officers  were  alike  essential  to  the  consumma- 
tion of  their  design.  They  now  returned  in  triumph,  their 
purposes  accomplished.  The  odious  law  was  annulled  in 
ISTorth  Carolina.  After  that,  merchant  vessels  passed  freely 
in  and  out  of  port,  without  interference.  The  stamps  re- 
mained boxed  on  shipboard,  and  no  further  effort  was  made 
to  enforce  a  law  which  the  people  had  rejected. 

Two  months  after  these  events  on  the  Cape  Fear,  Parlia- 
ment repealed  the  law,  and  the  news  was  hurried  across  the 
Atlantic  in  the  fleetest  vessels.  The  victory  of  the  people 
was  complete.  They  had  annulled  an  act  of  Parliament, 
crushed  their  enemies,  and  preserved  their  liberties.  Thus 
once  more  were  the  courageous  leaders  on  the  Cape  Fear,  in 


78  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

their  measures  of  opposition  to  encroachments  on  the  rights 
of  the  people,  sustained  by  the  result.  On  former  occasions 
they  had  triumphed  over  their  Governors:  now,  in  coopera- 
tion with  the  other  provinces,  they  had  triumphed  over  the 
British  Ministry  and  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain. 

While  in  every  other  province  the  people  resolutely  op- 
posed the  Stamp  Act,  nowhere  else  in  America  was  there 
a  proceeding  similar  to  that  which  was  taken  at  Wilming- 
ton. Nowhere  else  was  the  standard  of  Liberty  committed 
to  the  care  of  a  Governing  Board,  even  though  its  creation 
was  for  a  temporary  purpose ;  nowhere  else  was  there  an  army 
organized,  under  officers  appointed,  and  led  to  a  field  where 
a  battle  might  have  ensued.  Had  not  His  Majesty's  forces 
yielded  to  the  will  of  the  insurgents,  the  American  Eevolu- 
tion  would  probably  have  begun  then — and  here — on  the 
soil  of  Old  Brunswick. 


E.USSELLB0ROUGH,  SCENE  OF  FIRST  AEMED 
EESISTANCE. 

About  half  a  mile  to  the  south  of  Orton  House,  and  within 
the  boundary  of  the  plantation,  are  the  ruins  of  Governor 
Tryon's  residence,  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  United 
States  as  the  spot  upon  which  the  first  overt  act  of  violence 
occurred  in  the  war  of  American  Independence,  nearly  eight 
years  before  the  Boston  Tea  incident,  of  which  so  much  has 
been  made  in  Northern  history ;  while  this  colonial  ruin,  the 
veritable  cradle  of  American  liberty,  is  probably  unknown 
to  nine-tenths  of  the  people  of  the  Cape  Fear  at  the  present 
day. 

This  place,  which  has  been  eloquently  referred  to  by  two 
of  the  most  distinguished  sons  of  the  Cape  Fear,  and  direct 
descendants  of  Sir  John  Yeamans,  the  late  Hon.  George 
Davis  and  the  Hon.  A.  M.  Waddell,  and  which  was  known  as 
Russellborough,  was  bought  from  William  Moore,  son  and 
successor  of  "King"  Roger,  by  Capt.  John  Russell,  Com- 
mander of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  sloop  of  war  Scorpion, 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  79 

who  gave  the  tract  of  about  fifty-five  acres  his  own  name.  It 
subsequently  passed  into  the  possession  of  his  widow,  who 
made  a  deed  of  trust,  and  the  property  ultimately  again  be- 
came a  part  of  Orton  plantation.  It  was  sold  March  31, 
1758,  by  the  executors  of  the  estate  of  William  Moore  to  the 
British  Governor  and  Commander-in-Chief,  Arthur  Dobbs, 
who  occupied  it  and  who  sold  it  or  gave  it  to  his  son,  Edward 
Bryce  Dobbs,  captain  of  His  Majesty's  7th  Eegiment  of 
Foot  or  Eoyal  Fusileers,  who  conveyed  it  by  deed,  dated 
February  12,  1767,  to  His  Excellency,  William  Tryon,  Gov- 
ernor, etc.  It  appears,  however,  that  Governor  Tryon  occu- 
pied this  residence  prior  to  the  date  of  this  deed,  as  is  shown 
by  the  following  official  correspondence  in  1766  with  refer- 
ence to  the  uprising  of  the  Cape  Fear  people  in  opposition  to 

the  Stamp  Act : 

Brunswick,  19th  February,  1766, 

Eleven  at  Night. 
Sir; — Between  the  hours  of  six  and  seven  o'clock  this  evening, 
Mr.  Geo.  Moore  and  Mr.  Cornelius  Harnett  waited  on  me  at  my  house, 
and  delivered  me  a  letter  signed  by  three  gentlemen.  The  inclosed 
is  a  copy  of  the  original.  I  told  Mr.  Moore  and  Mr.  Harnett  that  I 
had  no  fears  or  apprehensions  for  my  person  or  property,  I  wanted 
no  guard,  therefore  desired  the  gentlemen  might  not  come  to  give 
their  protection  where  it  was  not  necessary  or  required,  and  that  I 
would  send  the  gentlemen  an  answer  in  writing  to-morrow  morning. 
Mr.  Moore  and  Mr.  Harnett  might  stay  about  five  or  six  minutes  in 
my  house.  Instantly  after  their  leaving  me,  I  found  my  house  sur- 
rounded with  armed  men  to  the  number,  I  estimate,  at  one  hundred 
and  fifty.  I  had  some  altercation  with  some  of  the  gentlemen,  who 
informed  me  their  business  was  to  see  Captain  Lobb,  whom  they 
were  informed  was  at  my  house;  Captain  Paine  then  desired  me 
to  give  my  word  and  honor  whether  Captain  Lobb  was  in  my  house 
or  not.  I  positively  refused  to  make  any  such  declaration,  but  as  they 
had  force  in  their  hands  I  said  they  might  break  open  my  locks  and 
force  my  doors.  This,  they  declared,  they  had  no  intention  of  doing; 
just  after  this  and  other  discourse,  they  got  intelligence  that  Captain 
Lobb  was  not  in  my  house.  The  majority  of  the  men  in  arms  then 
went  to  the  town  of  Brunswick,  and  left  a  number  of  men  to  watch 
the  avenues  of  my  house,  therefore  think  it  doubtful  if  I  can  get 
this  letter  safely  conveyed.  I  esteem  it  my  duty,  sir,  to  inform  you, 
as  Fort  Johnston  has  but  one  officer  and  five  men  in  garrison,  the 
Fort  will  stand  in  need  of  all  the  assistance  the  Viper  and  Diligence 
sloops  can  give  the  commanding  officer  there,  should  any  insult  be 
offered  to  His  Majesty's  fort  or  stores,  in  which  case  it  is  my  duty 


80  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

to  request  of  you  to  repel  force  with  force,  and  take  on  board  His 
Majesty's  sloops  so  much  of  His  Majesty's  ordnance,  stores,  and 
ammunition,  out  of  the  said  fort  as  you  shall  think  necessary  for 
the  benefit  of  the  service. 

I  am,  your  most  humble  servant,  Wm.  Tbton. 

To  the  Commanding  Officer,  either  of  the  Viper  or  Diligence,  Sloops 
of  War. 

The  writer,  who  has  made  his  home  at  Orton,  had  often 
inquired  for  the  precise  location  of  the  ruins  of  Governor 
Tryon's  Eussellborough  residence  without  success ;  but  about 
fifteen  years  ago,  acting  upon  Colonel  Waddell's  reference  to 
its  site  on  the  north  of  Old  Brunswick,  the  service  of  an  aged 
negro  who  had  lived  continuously  on  the  plantation  for  over 
seventy  years  was  engaged.  He,  being  questioned,  could  not 
remember  ever  having  heard  the  name  Eussellborough,  nor 
of  Governor  Dobbs,  nor  of  Governor  Tryon,  nor  of  an  avenue 
of  trees  in  the  locality  described.  He  said  he  remembered, 
however,  hearing  when  he  was  a  boy  about  a  man  named 
"Governor  Palace,"  who  lived  in  a  great  house  between  Or- 
ton and  old  Brunswick. 

We  proceeded  at  once  to  the  spot,  which  is  approached 
through  an  old  field,  still  known  as  Old  Palace  Field,  on  the 
other  side  of  which,  on  a  bluff  facing  the  east,  and  affording 
a  fine  view  of  the  river,  we  found  hidden  in  a  dense  under- 
growth of  timber  the  foundation  walls  of  Tryon's  residence. 
The  aged  guide  showed  us  the  well-worn  carriage  road  of  the 
Governor,  and  also  his  private  path  through  the  old  garden 
to  the  river  landing,  a  short  distance  below,  on  the  south  of 
which  is  a  beautiful  cove  of  white  and  shining  sand,  known, 
he  said,  in  olden  times,  as  the  Governor's  Cove.  The  stone 
foundation  walls  of  the  house  are  about  two  feet  above  the 
surface  of  the  ground.  Some  sixty  years  ago  the  walls  stood 
from  about  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  high,  but  the  material  was 
unfortunately  used  by  one  of  the  proprietors  for  building 
purposes. 

The  old  servant  pointed  out  a  large  pine  tree  near  by,  upon 
which  he  said  had  been  carved  in  Colonial  times  the  names  of 
two  distinguished  persons  buried  beneath  it,  and  which  in 


PERMANENT  SETTLEMENT  81 

his  youthful  days  was  regarded  with  much  curiosity  by  vis- 
itors. The  rude  inscription  has  unhappily  become  almost  ob- 
literated by  several  growths  of  bark,  and  the  strange  mys- 
terious record  is  forever  hidden  by  the  hand  of  time. 

A  careful  excavation  of  this  ruin  would  doubtless  reveal 
some  interesting  and  possibly  valuable  relics  of  Governor 
Tryon's  household.  ISTear  the  surface  was  found,  while  these 
lines  were  being  written,  some  fragments  of  blue  Dutch  til- 
ing, doubtless  a  part  of  the  interior  decorations ;  also  a  num- 
ber of  peculiarly  shaped  bottles  for  the  favorite  sack  of  those 
days,  which  Falstaff  called  Sherris  sack,  of  Xeres  vintage, 
now  known  as  dry  sherry. 

In  recent  years  the  site  of  Governor  Tryon's  palace  upon 
this  spot  has  been  marked  by  a  substantial  monument  built 
of  bricks  and  stones  taken  from  the  foundation  of  the  place, 
and  suitably  inscribed  by  the  ISTorth  Carolina  Society  of 
Colonial  Dames  of  America. 


The  Revolution 

THE  I^^STITUTIQ]^  OF  THE  REVOLUTIONARY 
GOVERNMENT. 

On  July  21,  1774,  there  was  an  important  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Wilmington  district  held  at  Wilmington. 

It  being  understood  that  the  Royal  Governor  had  deter- 
mined that  the  legislature  should  not  meet,  this  meeting 
was  called  to  take  steps  for  the  election  of  delegates  to  a 
Revolutionary  Convention. 

William  Hooper  presided;  and  Col.  James  Moore,  John 
Ancrum,  Fred  Jones,  Samuel  Ashe,  Robert  Howe,  Robert 
Hogg,  Francis  Clayton,  and  Archibald  Maclaine  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  prepare  a  circular  letter  to  the  several 
counties  of  the  Province,  requesting  them  to  elect  delegates 
to  represent  them  in  the  Convention. 

This  was  the  first  movement  to  provide  for  a  Revolutionary 
Government,  and  the  delegates  elected  were  the  first  elected 
by  the  people  in  any  Province  in  right  of  the  sovereignty  of 
the  people.  It  was  at  this  same  meeting  that  the  declaration 
was  made  that  "the  Cause  of  Boston  was  the  Cause  of  All." 
It  was  "Resolved  that  we  consider  the  cause  of  Boston  as  the 
common  cause  of  British  America."  Money  and  a  shipload 
of  provisions  were  at  once  subscribed  for  the  suffering  people 
of  Boston,  and  Parker  Quince  offered  his  vessel  to  carry  the 
provisions  and  himself  went  to  deliver  them. 

In  response  to  the  letter  sent  out  by  the  committee,  dele- 
gates were  chosen  in  every  county  except  five,  and  the  Con- 
vention met  at  New  Bern  on  August  25,  1774,  and  a  Revolu- 
tionary Government  was  instituted. 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SAFETY  COMMITTEE. 

(Extracts.) 

Wilmington,  November  23,  1774. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  in  the  Courthouse  at  Wil- 
mington for  the  purpose  of  choosing  a  Committee  of  said 


THE  REVOLUTION  83 

town  to  carry  more  effectually  into  execution  the  resolves  of 
the  late  Congress  held  at  Philadelphia,  the  following  names 
were  proposed  and  universally  assented : 

Cornelius  Harnett,  Jno.  Quince,  Francis  Clayton,  William 
Hooper,  Robert  Hogg,  Arch*^  McLain,  Jno.  Robinson,  James 
Walker. 

Wednesday,   January   4,    1775. 

The  Committee  met  at  the  Courthouse.  Present,  Corne- 
lius Harnett,  Archibald  McLaine,  John  Ancrum,  William 
Hooper,  and  John  Robinson. 

At  the  same  time  the  freeholders  of  l^ew  Hanover  County 
assembled  to  choose  a  committee  for  the  county  to  join  and 
cooperate  with  the  committee  of  the  town,  which  the  members 
present  agreed  to.  Then  the  freeholders  present,  having  Cor- 
nelius Harnett  in  the  chair,  unanimously  chose  George 
Moore,  John  Ashe,  Samuel  Ashe,  James  Moore,  Frederick 
Jones,  Alex.  Lillington,  Sampson  Moseley,  Samuel  Swann, 
George  Merrick,  Esquires,  and  Messrs.  John  Hollingsworth, 
Samuel  Collier,  Samuel  Marshal,  William  Jones,  Thomas 
Bloodworth,  James  Wright,  Wm.  Jones,  John  Larkins,  Joel 
Parrish,  John  Devane,  Timothy  Bloodworth,  Thomas  De- 
vane,  John  Marshall,  John  Calvin,  Bishop  Dudley,  and  Wil- 
liam Robeson,  Esquires,  a  committee  to  join  the  committee  of 
Wilmington. 

Monday,  March  6,  1775. 

The  Committee  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  following  association  was  agreed  on  by  the  Commit- 
tee and  annexed  to  the  resolves  of  the  General  Congress,  to 
be  handed  to  every  person  in  this  county  and  recommended 
to  the  Committees  of  the  adjacent  counties,  that  those  who 
acceded  to  the  said  resolves,  may  subscribe  their  names 
thereto. 

We,  the  subscribers,  in  testimony  of  our  sincere  approba- 
tion of  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Continental  Congress,  to 
the  annexed  have  hereto  set  our  hands,   and  we  do  most 
solemnly  engage  by  the  most  sacred  ties  of  honor,  virtue,  and 
7 


84  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

love  of  our  country,  that  we  will  ourselves  strictly  observe 
every  part  of  the  Association  recommended  by  the  Conti- 
nental Congress. 

Mr.  James  Kenan,  Chairman  of  the  Duplin  Committee, 
pursuant  to  a  letter  from  this  committee  at  its  last  meeting 
attended. 

Eesolved  that  all  the  members  of  the  committee  now  pres- 
ent go  in  a  body  and  wait  on  all  housekeepers  in  town,  with 
the  Association  before  mentioned  and  request  their  signing 
it,  or  declare  their  reasons  for  refusing,  that  such  enemies 
to  their  country  may  be  set  forth  to  public  view  and  treated 
with  the  contempt  they  merit. 

Eesolved  that  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  committee  that  all 
dances,  private  as  well  as  public,  are  contrary  to  the  spirit 
of  the  eighth  article  in  the  Association  of  the  Continental 
Congress,  and  as  such  they  ought  to  be  discouraged,  and  that 
all  persons  concerned  in  any  dances  for  the  future  should  be 
properly  stigmatized. 

Mr.  Harnett  desired  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  respect- 
ing a  negro  fellow  he  bought  in  Ehode  Island  (a  native  of 
that  place)  in  the  month  of  October  last,  whom  he  designed 
to  have  brought  with  him  to  this  Province,  but  the  said  negro 
ran  away  at  the  time  of  his  sailing  from  Rhode  Island.  The 
question  was  put  whether  Mr.  Harnett  may  import  said 
negro  from  Rhode  Island. 

Resolved  unanimously  that  Mr.  Harnett  may  import  the 
said  negro  from  Rhode  Island. 

Tuesday,  March  7,   1775. 

Resolved  that  three  members  of  this  committee  attend  the 
meeting  of  the  Committee  at  Duplin  on  the  18th  instant.  Mr. 
Samuel  Ashe,  Mr.  Sampson  Mosely,  and  Mi-.  Timothy  Blood- 
worth  were  accordingly  nominated  to  attend  the  said  Com- 
mittee. 


1746 

1746 

(47) -1754 

1754-1760 

1760 

1761 

1762 

(April) 

1762 

(November) 

1764-1765 

1766- 

1768 

1769 

1770-1771 

1773 

(January) 

1773- 

1774 

THE  REVOLUTION  85 

COLONIAL  MEMBERS  OF  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY. 

(Compiled  by  the  North  Carolina  Historical  Commission.) 

Borough  Membebs  from  Wilmington. 
1739  (40) -1740  William  Parris 

1742-1743  William  Farris 

1744-1745  William  Farris 

Thomas  Clark 
Lewis  DeRosset 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 
Cornelius  Harnett 

New  Hanover  County  Members. 

1734  John  Swann 

Job  Howe 
Maurice  Moore 

1736  Maurice  Moore 

John  Swann 

1738-1739  Nathaniel  Moore 

John  Swann 

1739-1740  John  Swann 

Maurice  Moore 

1744-1745  John  Swann 

George  Moore 

1746  Samuel  Swann 

Rufus  Marsden 
John  Swann 

1746-1754  Rufus  Marsden 

John  Swann 
John  Ashe 

1754-1760  George  Moore 

John  Ashe 

1760  George  Moore 

John  Ashe 

1761  George  Moore 

John  Ashe 


86  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

1762   (April)  George  Moore 

John  Ashe 
1762  (November)  John  Ashe 

Alexander  Lillington 
1764-1765  John  Ashe 

James  Moore 
1766-1768  John  Ashe 

James  Moore 
1769  John  Ashe 

James  Moore 
1770-1771  John  Ashe 

James  Moore 
1773  (January)  John  Ashe 

James  Moore 
1773-1774  John  Ashe 

William  Hooper 
1775  John  Ashe 

William  Hooper 

PROVINCIAL  CONGRESSES. 
Borough  Members  from  Wilmington. 
Aug.     1774  "  Francis  Clayton 

April   1775  Cornelius  Harnett 

Aug.     1775  Cornelius  Harnett 

Archibald  Maclaine 
April    1776  Cornelius  Harnett 

Nov.     1776  William  Hooper 

New  Hanoveb  County  Members. 

Aug.     1774  John  Hooper 

William  Hooper 

April    1775  William  Hooper 

John  Ashe 

Aug.     1775  George  Moore 

Alexander  Lillington 
Samuel  Ashe 
William  Hooper 
James  Moore 
John  Ashe 

April   1776  John  Ashe 

John  Devane 
Samuel  Ashe 
Sampson  Moseley 
John  Hollingsworth 

Nov,     1776  John  Ashe 

Samuel  Ashe 
John  Devane 
Sampson  Moseley 
John  Hollingsworth 


THE  REVOLUTION  87 

WHIGS  AND  TORIES. 

On  the  last  day  of  May,  1775,  the  Eoyal  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  Josiah  Martin,  locked  his  palace  at  New 
Bern  and  fled  to  Fort  Johnston,  arriving  there  on  June  2d. 
Two  weeks  later  he  issued  his  proclamation  warning  the  peo- 
ple to  desist  from  their  revolutionary  proceedings.  As  if  in 
answer,  on  June  19th,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Hanover,  hav- 
ing assembled,  united  in  an  Association  "to  sacrifice  their 
lives  and  fortunes  to  secure  the  freedom  and  safety  of  their 
country."  The  next  day,  June  20th,  the  Committeemen  of 
Duplin,  Bladen,  Onslow,  Brunswick,  and  New  Hanover  met 
at  Wilmington  and  adopted  the  New  Hanover  Association, 
which  was  also  signed,  later,  in  Cumberland.  Three  weeks 
elapsed,  and  then  the  people  of  the  lower  Cape  Fear,  having 
determined  to  dislodge  the  garrison  of  the  fort,  on  the  18th 
of  July  seized  and  burnt  the  fort,  the  Governor  and  his 
soldiers  taking  refuge  on  the  vessels. 

Knowing  that  there  was  a  large  number  of  loyal  adherents 
in  the  interior,  Governor  Martin  devised  a  plan  by  which  a 
strong  British  force  was  to  be  sent  from  England  to  the  Cape 
Fear,  where  they  would  be  joined  by  the  Loyalists  from  the 
upper  counties,  and  the  Province  reduced  to  subjection. 
Accordingly,  when  the  time  approached  for  the  British  fleet 
to  arrive,  the  Loyalists  began  to  embody,  the  first  movement 
being  on  February  5th,  with  instructions  to  concentrate  at 
Campbellton.  As  quickly  as  this  action  was  known,  the  news 
was  hurried  to  Wilmington  and  other  points  throughout  the 
Province.  The  messengers  reached  Wilmington  on  the  9th 
with  the  startling  intelligence,  and  the  greatest  excitement 
prevailed. 

For  eighty  hours,  night  and  day,  there  was  severe,  unremit- 
ting service,  making  preparation  for  defense.  Companies 
of  troops  rushed  in  from  Onslow,  Duplin,  and  Brunswick,  the 
whole  country  being  aroused.  Colonel  Moore  with  his  Con- 
tinentals, Colonel  Lillington  with  his  corps  of  Minutemen, 


88  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Colonel  Ashe  with  his  Independents,  hurried  to  the  vicinity 
of  Campellton  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  Loyalists,  while 
Colonel  Purviance,  in  command  of  the  New  Hanover  Militia, 
remained  at  Wilmington,  throwing  up  breastworks,  mounting 
swivels,  and  constructing  fire-rafts  to  drive  off  the  British 
vessels  should  they  attempt  to  seize  the  town.  The  sloop  of 
war  Cruiser  did  ascend  the  river,  but,  avoiding  Wilmington, 
tried  to  pass  up  the  Clarendon,  or  Brunswick  River,  being, 
however,  driven  back  by  riflemen  who  lined  the  banks. 

The  battle  of  Moore's  Creek  followed  on  February  27th, 
and  the  plan  of  the  Governor  was  defeated.  All  during 
March  and  April  British  vessels  came  into  the  harbor,  but 
the  grand  fleet  bearing  the  troops  from  England,  being  de- 
tained by  storms,  did  not  arrive  until  the  end  of  April,  when 
there  were  more  than  a  hundred  ships  in  the  river.  The  plan 
of  the  Governor  having  failed,  towards  the  end  of  May  the 
fleet  sailed,  expecting  to  take  possession  of  Charleston,  leaving 
only  a  few  ships  in  the  river.  Later,  these  likewise  were 
withdrawn,  and  for  nearly  five  years  the  people  of  Wilming- 
ton were  left  undisturbed. 

At  length,  South  Carolina  being  subjugated.  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  proposed  to  enter  North  Carolina,  and  as  a  part  of  his 
operations,  on  the  28th  of  January,  1781,  Maj.  James  M. 
Craig  took  possession  of  Wilmington.  His  force  consisted  of 
eighteen  vessels,  carrying  a  full  supply  of  provisions  and  mu- 
nitions, and  400  regular  troops,  artillery  and  dragoons.  At 
that  time  Brunswick  was  entirely  deserted,  and  Wilmington 
contained  but  200  houses  and  only  1,000  inhabitants.  The 
entire  Cape  Fear  region  was  defenseless.  The  losses  of  the 
Cape  Fear  counties  at  Camden  and  in  other  battles  at  the 
South  had  been  heavy,  while  many  of  the  militia  and  the 
whole  Continental  Line  had  been  surrendered  by  Lindbln  at 
Charleston.  Thus  the  Whig  strength  had  been  greatly  weak- 
ened, while  there  were  in  the  country  but  few  guns  and  no 
powder  and  lead.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Loyalists  had  been 
strengthened  by  accessions  from  those  who  wearied  of  the  war. 


THE  REVOLUTION  89 

Major  Craig  at  once  dispatclaed  detachments  to  scour  the 
country,  seize  prominent  Whigs,  collect  forage,  and  arouse 
the  Loyalists,  who  in  some  counties  largely  outnumbered  the 
Whigs.  After  the  Battle  of  Guilford  Courthouse,  Cornwallis 
retreated  to  Wilmington,  his  army  arriving  there  on  April 
7th.  When  he  had  repaired  his  damage  as  well  as  he  could, 
in  the  closing  days  of  April,  he  marched  through  the  eastern 
counties  to  Virginia,  leaving  the  subjugation  of  Korth  Caro- 
lina to  Major  Craig. 

Large  bodies  of  Loyalists,  well  supplied  by  the  British  with 
arms  and  ammunition,  too  strong  to  be  successfully  resisted, 
now  marched  at  will  throughout  the  upper  Cape  Fear  coun- 
try, suppressing  the  Whigs  and  taking  many  prisoners,  con- 
fining them  in  prison  ships  or  in  Craig's  "bull-pen"  on  shore. 

After  Cornwallis  had  passed  on  to  Virginia,  General  Lil- 
lington  returned  to  his  former  position  at  Heron  Bridge  over 
the  Northeast;  but  in  June  he  was  forced  to  retire  into 
Onslow  County,  and  Craig  established  an  outpost  at  Ruther- 
ford Mills  on  Ashe's  Creek,  seven  miles  east  of  Burgaw, 
where  he  constructed  a  bastion  fort.  In  the  meantime  Craig 
had  been  active  in  organizing  the  Loyalists,  and  he  issued 
a  proclamation  notifying  the  inhabitants  that  they  were  all 
British  subjects  and  must  enroll  themselves  as  Loyal  militia, 
and  those  who  did  not  do  so  by  the  first  day  of  August  were 
to  be  harried,  their  property  seized  and  sold,  and  themselves 
destroyed.  On  the  last  day  of  grace  Craig  began  a  march 
through  the  eastern  counties,  his  loyal  lieutenants  being  very 
vigorous  in  the  counties  on  the  ITorthwest  and  the  Haw 
and  the  Deep  Rivers.  When  he  reached  Rock  Creek,  two  miles 
east  of  Wallace,  he  found  Colonel  Kenan  with  some  five  hun- 
dred militia  ready  to  contest  his  passage ;  but  Kenan's  ammu- 
nition was  soon  exhausted  and  the  British  successfully  crossed 
and  dispersed  the  militia.  Tor  ten  days  Craig  remained  in 
Duplin  and  harried  the  Whigs,  and  then,  after  being  joined 
by  three  hundred  Loyalists,  he  moved  towards  !New  Bern. 
Lillington  was  at  Limestone  Bridge,  but  hurried  on  the  road 
to  the  Trent  to  keep  in  Craig's  front.    He  had  about  six  hun- 


90  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

dred  men,  but  only  three  rounds  of  ammunition,  and  had  been 
directed  not  to  hazard  a  battle.  On  the  17th  of  August,  Gen- 
eral Caswell  reported  to  the  Governor:  "General  Lillington 
is  between  New  Bern  and  the  enemy,  and  I  am  fearful  will 
risk  an  action.  I  have  done  everything  I  can  to  prevent  it, 
and  have  let  him  have  a  sight  of  your  Excellency's  letter 
wherein  you  mention  that  no  general  action  must  take  place." 
Craig  entered  ISfew  Bern,  and  then  marched  towards  Kinston, 
but  turned  south  and  went  to  Richlands,  and  after  obtaining 
a  supply  of  forage,  he  returned  to  Wilmington.  At  the  east 
the  Whigs  now  rallied  everywhere,  those  in  Duplin,  having 
suffered  greatly,  being  thoroughly  exasperated.  They  sur- 
prised a  body  of  Tories,  "cut  many  of  them  to  pieces,  took 
several,  and  put  them  to  instant  death."  The  retaliation  on 
each  side  was  fierce  and  ferocious,  until  at  length  the  Tories 
subsided.  But  in  Bladen  and  higher  up  the  Tory  detach- 
ments, each  numbering  several  hundred,  held  the  country  and 
drove  the  Whigs  out.  However,  on  August  28th,  Colonel 
Brown,  with  about  150  Bladen  men,  won  a  complete  victory 
at  Elizabethtown  and  broke  the  Tory  power  in  Bladen.  But 
a  fortnight  later,  Fanning,  whose  force  numbered  1,000  men, 
took  Hillsboro,  captured  the  Governor  of  the  State,  and 
fought  the  battle  of  Cane  Creek. 

It  was  not  until  October  that  General  Rutherford  was  able 
to  collect  enough  men  to  march  to  the  relief  of  Wilmington. 
Early  in  November  he  reached  the  Northeast,  ten  miles 
above  the  town,  and  established  himself  there,  hemming  Craig 
in.  But  now  momentous  events  happening  at  Yorktown  had 
their  effect  on  the  Cape  Fear.  On  the  17th  of  November 
Light  Horse  Harry  Lee  (the  father  of  Gen.  Robert  E. 
Lee)  arrived  at  Rutherford's  camp,  bringing  the  glad  news 
of  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  Immediately  the  whole  camp 
united  in  a  feu  de  joie,  and  then  Rutherford  crossed  the  river 
and  took  post  at  Schaw's,  four  miles  from  the  town.  On  the 
following  morning,  November  18th,  Major  Craig  and  his 
troops  boarded  his  ships  and  took  their  departure,  and  al- 


TEE  REVOLUTION  91 

though  the  Tory  bands  continued  to  wage  a  relentless  and 
murderous  warfare  on  the  Haw  and  the  Deep,  Wilmington 
thereafter  enjoyed  quiet  and  repose. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  ELIZABETHTOWN. 

(The  Wilmington  Weekly  Chronicle,  February,  1844.) 

One  of  the  most  daring  and  successful  onsets  upon  Tories 
by  the  Whigs  during  the  Eevolutionary  War  was  at  Eliza- 
bethtown,  in  the  county  of  Bladen,  of  this  State.  ITo  notice  of 
the  battle  was  found  in  any  history  of  that  period.  We  un- 
derstood that  there  was  an  imperfect  relation  of  it  published 
in  a  Federal  paper  25  or  30  years  ago.  That  a  memorial  to 
so  gallant  an  act  might  be  revived  and  placed  within  reach  of 
some  future  historian,  we  addressed  a  letter  to  a  distinguished 
gentleman  of  Bladen,  desiring  such  information  in  regard  to 
the  affair  as  he  should  possess  or  be  able  to  collect.  The  an- 
nexed letter  from  him  furnishes  a  very  satisfactory  account 
of  the  information  sought  for,  and  will  doubtless  be  perused 
by  every  N'orth  Carolinian  with  much  interest.  Our  re- 
spected correspondent,  probably  through  inadvertence,  omit- 
ted to  put  down  the  date  of  the  battle.  It  was  1781,  and, 
as  near  as  we  can  ascertain,  in  the  month  of  July. 

Bladen  County,  Feb.  21st,  1844. 
A.  A.  Beown,  Esq., 

Editor  of  the  Wilmington  Weekly  Chronicle. 
Dear  Sir: — Yours  of  the  3d  inst.  was  received,  solicit- 
ing such  information  as  I  possess  or  may  be  able  to  collect 
respecting  the  battle  fought  at  Elizabethtown  during  our 
Revolutionary  struggle  between  the  Whigs  and  Tories.  I 
have  often  regretted  that  the  actions  and  skirmishes  which 
occurred  in  this  and  New  Hanover  County  should  have  been 
overlooked  by  historians.  The  battle  of  Elizabethtown  de- 
serves a  place  in  history  and  ought  to  be  recollected  by  every 
true-hearted  ISTorth  Carolinian  with  pride  and  pleasure.  Here 
sixty  men,  driven  from  their  homes,  their  estates  ravaged 


92  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

and  houses  plundered,  who  had  taken  refuge  with  the  Whigs 
of  Duplin,  without  funds  and  bare  of  clothing,  resolved  to 
return,  fight,  conquer,  or  die.  After  collecting  all  the  ammu- 
nition they  could  they  embodied  and  selected  Col.  Thomas 
Brown  in  command.  They  marched  fifty  miles  through  al- 
most a  wilderness  country  before  they  reached  the  river,  sub- 
sisting on  jerked  beef  and  a  scanty  supply  of  bread.  The 
Tories  had  assembled,  300  or  more,  at  Elizabethtown,  and 
were  commanded  by  Slingsby  and  Godden.  The  former  was 
a  talented  man  and  well  fitted  for  his  station ;  the  latter,  bold, 
daring,  and  reckless,  ready  to  risk  everything  to  put  down  the 
Whigs.  Every  precautionary  measure  was  adopted  to  pre- 
vent surprise  and  to  render  this  the  stronghold  of  Toryism. 
Nobody  was  suffered  to  remain  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 
Guards  and  sentries  were  regularly  detached  and  posted. 
When  the  little  band  of  Whig  heroes  after  nightfall  reached 
the  river,  not  a  boat  was  to  be  found.  But  it  must  be  crossed 
and  that  speedily.  Its  depth  was  ascertained  by  some  who 
were  tall  and  expert  swimmers.  They,  to  a  man,  cried  out,  "It 
is  fordable,  we  can,  we  will  cross  it."  ISTot  a  murmur  was 
heard,  and  without  a  moment's  delay  they  all  undressed,  tied 
their  clothing  and  ammunition  on  their  heads  (baggage  they 
had  none),  each  man  grasping  the  barrel  of  his  gun,  raised  the 
bridge  so  as  to  keep  the  lock  above  water,  descended  the  banks, 
and  entered  the  river.  The  taller  men  found  less  difficulty; 
those  of  lower  stature  were  scarcely  able  to  keep  their  mouths 
and  noses  above  water;  but  all  safely  reached  the  opposite 
shore,  resumed  their  dresses,  fixed  their  arms  for  action,  made 
their  way  through  the  low  ground  then  thickly  settled  with 
men,  ascended  the  hills  which  were  high  and  precipitous, 
crossed  King's  road  leading  through  the  town,  and  took  a  posi- 
tion in  its  rear.  Here  they  formed,  and,  in  about  two  hours 
after  crossing  a  mile  below,  commenced  a  furious  attack,  driv- 
ing in  the  Tory  sentries  and  guards.  They  continued  rapidly 
to  advance,  keeping  up  a  brisk  and  well  directed  fire,  and 
were  soon  in  the  midst  of  the  foe,  mostly  Highland  Scotch- 
men, as  brave,  as  high-minded  as  any  of  His  Majesty's  sub- 


THE  REVOLUTION  93 

jects.  So  sudden  and  violent  an  onset  for  the  moment  pro- 
duced disorder ;  but  they  were  rallied  by  their  gallant  leader 
and  made  for  a  while  the  most  determined  resistance.  Slings- 
bj  fell  mortally  wounded  and  Godden  was  killed,  with  most 
of  the  officers  of  inferior  grade.  They  retreated,  some  tak- 
ing refuge  in  houses,  the  others,  the  larger  portion,  leaping 
pell-mell  in  a  deep  ravine,  since  called  the  Tory  Hole.  As 
the  Tories  had  unlimited  sway  from  the  river  to  the  Little  Pee 
Dee,  the  Whigs  recrossed,  taking  with  them  their  wounded. 
Such  was  the  general  panic  produced  by  this  action  that  the 
Tories  became  dispirited  and  never  after  were  so  troublesome. 
The  Whigs  returned  to  their  homes  in  safety.  In  the  death  of 
Slingsby  the  Tories  were  deprived  of  an  oflScer  whose  place 
it  was  difficult  to  fill ;  but  few  were  equal  to  Godden  in  parti- 
san warfare.  This  battle  was  mostly  fought  by  river  planters, 
men  who  had  sacrificed  much  for  their  country.  To  judge  it 
correctly  it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  country  from 
Little  Pee  Dee  to  the  Caharas  was  overrun  by  the  Tories. 
Wilmington  was  in  possession  of  the  British  and  Cross  Creek 
of  the  Tories.  Thus  situated  the  attack  made  on  them  at 
Elizabethtown  assumed  much  of  the  character  of  a  forlorn 
hope.  Had  the  Whigs  not  succeeded  they  must  have  been 
cut  off  to  a  man.  If  they  had  fled  southward  the  Tories 
would  have  arisen  to  destroy  them.  If  eastward,  the  Tories 
in  that  case,  flushed  with  victory,  would  have  pursued  them, 
and  they  would  have  sought  in  vain  their  former  asylum. 
This  action  produced  in  this  part  of  l^orth  Carolina  as 
sudden  and  happy  results  as  the  battles  of  Trenton  and 
Princeton  in  New  Jersey.  The  contest  was  unequal,  but 
valor  supplied  the  place  of  numbers. 

It  is  due  to  Colonel  Brown,  who,  when  a  youth,  marched 
with  General  Waddell  from  Bladen  and  fought  under  Gov- 
ernor Tryon  at  the  battle  of  Alamance  and  was  afterwards 
wounded  at  the  Big  Bridge,  to  say  he  fully  realized  the  ex- 
pectations of  his  friends  and  the  wishes  of  those  who  selected 
him  to  command ;  and  when  the  history  of  our  State  shall  be 
written  this  action  alone,  apart  from  his  chivalric  conduct  at 


94  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  Big  Bridge,  will  place  liim  by  the  side  of  his  compa- 
triots Horry,  Marion,  and  Sumter  of  the  South.  It  must,  it 
will,  form  an  interesting  page  in  our  history  on  which  the 
young  men  of  North  Carolina  will  delight  to  dwell.  It  is  an 
achievement  which  bespeaks  not  only  the  most  determined 
bravery,  but  great  military  skill.  Most  of  these  men,  like  the 
Ten  Thousands  Greeks,  were  fitted  to  command.  Owen  had 
fought  at  Camden,  Morehead  commanded  the  nine-months' 
men  sent  to  the  South,  Eobeson  and  Ervine  were  the  Percys 
of  the  Whigs  and  might  justly  be  called  the  Hotspurs  of  the 
Cape  Fear. 

The  foregoing  narrative  was  detailed  to  me  by  two  of  the 
respective  combatants  who  now  sleep  with  their  fathers ;  the 
substance  of  which  I  have  endeavored  to  preserve  with  all  the 
accuracy  a  memory  not  very  retentive  will  permit.  A  re- 
spectable resident  of  Elizabethtown  has  recently  informed  me 
that  he  was  a  small  boy  at  the  time  of  the  battle  and  lived  with 
his  mother  in  one  of  the  houses  to  which  the  Tories  repaired 
for  safety ;  that  he  has  a  distinct  recollection  of  the  fire  of  the 
Whigs,  which  appeared  like  one  continuous  stream.  Docu- 
mentary evidence  I  have  none. 

With  great  respect, 


The  battle  of  Elizabethtown  took  place  August  29,  1781. 
The  consequences  of  that  victory  were  far-reaching.  Colonel 
Slingsby  had  at  Elizabethtown  a  great  number  of  Whigs  held 
as  prisoners,  who  were  restored  to  liberty  and  augmented  the 
Whig  strength  in  Bladen.  The  guns,  ammunition,  provi- 
sions, and  other  spoils  taken  supplied  the  Whigs,  who  were  in 
the  extremest  need.  Not  only  were  the  Loyalists  broken  up 
and  dispersed,  but  the  Whigs  were  so  strengthened  that  after 
that  the  Tories,  who  had  been  masters  of  Bladen,  made  no  op- 
position to  them.  Still  the  condition  of  the  Whigs  in  Bladen, 
as  in  all  the  other  Cape  Fear  country,  remained  deplorable. 


THE  REVOLUTION  95 

FLORA  MACDOITALD. 

Shortly  after  the  four  years'  war,  a  distinguished  Scottish 
traveler  and  lecturer,  David  Macrae,  visited  Wilmington, 
and  was  entertained  for  several  weeks  by  my  father,  the  late 
Alexander  Sprunt,  who  sent  him  with  credentials  to  the 
Scotch  Country,  where  he  was  cordially  received  and  honored. 
Mr.  Macrae  delivered  in  Wilmington  several  lectures  which 
were  largely  attended,  and  he  generously  devoted  the  proceeds 
to  the  benefit  of  local  charities. 

He  subsequently  wrote  the  following  account  of  High- 
landers in  North  Carolina,  with  particular  reference  to 
Flora  Macdonald,  whose  romantic  life  on  the  Cape  Fear  is 
worthy  of  a  more  enduring  memorial : 

Visit  to  the  Highland  Settlement. 

In  the  month  of  February,  one  clear,  sharp  morning,  I 
left  Wilmington  on  my  way  up  the  Cape  Fear  River  to  fol- 
low the  old  track  of  the  Highland  emigrants,  and  see  their 
settlement. 

The  steamers  on  that  river,  as  indeed  on  most  of  the  long 
rivers  in  America,  are  stern-wheelers — large,  slim,  white,  and 
deck-cabined,  with  only  one  paddle,  but  that  of  stupendous 
size,  standing  out  like  a  mill-wheel  from  the  stern  and  mak- 
ing one  think,  on  seeing  the  steamer  in  motion,  of  a  gigantic 
wheelbarrow  drawn  swiftly  backwards.  The  advantage  of  the 
stern  wheel  for  shallow  and  winding  rivers  is  that  it  allows 
of  a  narrower  beam  than  two  paddles,  and  takes  sufficient  hold 
to  propel  a  steamer  in  water  too  shallow  for  the  screw.  Our 
steamer  that  morning  (flat-bottomed,  of  course,  as  all  Ameri- 
can river  steamers  are)  drew  only  eighteen  inches  of  water, 
and  went  at  great  speed. 

We  had  not  been  steaming  long  up  the  broad  pale  earthy- 
brown  river,  through  the  flat  expanse,  with  its  rice  planta- 
tions, its  forest  land,  and  its  clearings,  with  the  black  stumps 
still  standing  like  chessmen  on  a  board,  when  I  was  struck 
with  the  extraordinary  appearance  of  the  leafless  woods,  which 


96  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

looked  as  if  a  deluge  had  just  subsided,  leaving  the  trees 
covered  with  masses  of  sea-weed. 

I  gazed  on  this  phenomenon  with  much  wonder,  till  it 
suddenly  occurred  to  me  that  this  must  he  the  famous  Caro- 
lina moss  (Tillandsia)  of  which  I  had  often  heard,  but  which 
I  had  not  yet  seen  in  any  quantity.  I  satisfied  myself  by 
asking  a  tall,  shaggy  man,  in  leather  leggings  and  a  tattered 
cloak  of  Confederate  gi'ay,  who  was  standing  near  me. 

"Don't  it  grow  whar  you  come  from  ?"  asked  the  man,  with 
the  usual  inquisitiveness  of  thinly  peopled  regions.  On  learn- 
ing that  I  was  a  stranger  from  the  old  country,  he  became 
exceedingly  courteous,  and  told  me  that  the  moss  I  had  in- 
quired about  was  very  common  in  that  State,  and  was  much 
used  by  the  people  for  stuffing  seats  and  cushions  and  bed- 
ding, being  first  boiled  to  kill  it.  He  said  it  seemed  to  feed 
upon  the  air.  You  could  take  a  handful  and  fling  it  over  the 
branch  of  another  tree,  and  it  would  grow  all  the  same. 

After  a  sail  of  some  hours  we  reached  a  point  from  which 
a  railway  runs  in  a  south-westerly  direction,  traversing  part 
of  the  Scotch  Country.  Here  we  got  into  the  "cars,"  and 
were  soon  bowling  through  the  lonely  forest  on  the  narrow 
iron  bed,  sometimes  over  tracks  that  were  irregularly  covered 
for  miles  with  still  water,  in  which  the  trees  and  bushes  that 
rose  from  it  stood  reflected  as  on  the  bosom  of  a  lake.  Now 
and  then,  at  long  intervals,  we  stopped  at  some  little  wayside 
station  in  the  forest,  with  its  cheerful  signs  of  human  life, 
its  casks  of  turpentine  and  its  piles  of  corded  wood,  around 
which  the  pines  were  being  hewn  down  and  cut,  some  of 
them  into  bars,  others  into  cheese-like  sections,  for  splitting 
into  the  shingles  that  are  used  for  roofing  instead  of  slates  or 
tiles.  Occasionally  the  train  stopped  in  places  where  there 
was  no  station  at  all,  to  let  some  one  out  at  the  part  of  the 
forest  nearest  to  his  home.  The  conductor,  who  was  con- 
tinually passing  up  and  down  through  the  cars,  stopped  the 
train  whenever  necessary,  by  pulling  the  cord  that  is  slung 
along  the  roof  of  all  American  trains  and  communicates  with 
the  engine. 


THE  REVOLUTION  97 

We  now  began  to  get  up  into  the  higher  country,  amongst 
forests  of  giant  pines,  where  the  ground  was  rough,  and  where 
the  sandy  soil,  looking  in  some  places  like  patches  of  snow, 
seemed  for  the  most  part  untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  It 
was  into  these  vast  solitudes,  of  which  we  had  as  yet  but 
touched  the  skirt,  that  the  Highlanders,  driven  from  their 
native  land  during  the  religious  and  political  troubles  of 
the  last  century,  had  come  to  find  a  home. 

North  Carolina  was  long  a  favourite  field  for  Highland 
emigi-ation.  More  than  a  hundred  and  forty  years  ago, 
when  Alexander  Clark,  of  Jura,  went  out  to  North  Carolina, 
and  made  his  way  up  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver  to  Cross  Creek, 
he  found  already  there  one  Hector  McNeill,  (known  as 
"Bluff"  Hector,  from  his  occupying  the  bluffs  over  the  river,) 
who  told  him  of  many  others  settled  farther  back,  most  of 
them  exiles  from  Scotland,  consequent  on  the  troubles  that 
followed  the  downfall  of  the  Stuarts,  some  of  them  Mac- 
donalds  who  had  been  fugitives  from  the  massacre  of  Glencoe. 
The  numbers  were  largely  increased  by  the  failure  of  the 
Jacobite  Eebellion  in  1745.  The  persecution  to  which  the 
Highlanders  were  subjected  after  the  scattering  of  the  clans 
at  Culloden  made  many  of  them  eager  to  escape  from  the 
country;  and  when  the  Government,  after  the  execution  of 
many  captured  rebels,  granted  pardon  to  the  rest  on  condi- 
tion of  their  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  emigrating  to 
the  plantations  of  America,  great  numbers  availed  themselves 
of  the  opportunity.  They  were  followed  gradually  by  many 
of  their  kith  and  kin,  till  the  vast  plains  and  forest  lands 
in  the  heart  of  North  Carolina  were  sprinkled  with  a  Gaelic- 
speaking  population. 

In  1775,  the  Scotch  Colony  received  a  memorable  acces- 
sion in  the  person  of  Flora  Macdonald,  who,  with  her  hus- 
band and  children,  had  left  Scotland  in  poverty  to  seek  a 
home  with  their  friends  in  the  American  forests.  The 
heroine  was  received  at  Wilmington^  and  at  various  points 
along  her  route  with  Highland  honours;   and  the  martial 

lAt  Wilmington  a  public  ball  was  given  in  her  honor. 


98  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

airs  of  her  native  land  greeted  her  as  she  approached  Cross 
Creek,  the  little  capital  of  the  Highland  settlement.  She 
arrived,  hovrever,  at  an  unhappy  time.  The  troubles  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  the  colonies  were  coming  to  a  head, 
and  in  a  few  months  hostilities  began. 

It  is  somewhat  singular  that  many  of  these  Highland 
colonists,  the  very  men  who  had  fought  against  the  Hanover- 
ian dynasty  at  home,  were  now  forward  to  array  themselves 
on  its  side.  But  they  had  been  Jacobites  and  Conservatives 
in  Scotland,  and  conservatism  in  America  meant  loyalty  to 
the  King.  Many  of  them,  however,  espoused  the  cause  of 
Independence,  and  the  declaration  prepared  in  the  County 
of  Cumberland,  immediately  after  the  famous  declaration  of 
the  neighboring  County  of  Mecklenburg,  has  many  High- 
land names  attached.  The  crafty  Governor  of  the  colony, 
fearing  the  spread  of  anti-British  sentiment,  and  knowing 
the  influence  of  Flora  Macdonald  amongst  the  Scottish 
settlers,  commissioned  one  of  her  kinsfolk  (Donald  Mac- 
donald), who  had  been  an  officer  in  the  Prince's  army  in  1745, 
to  raise  a  Highland  regiment  for  the  King,  and  gave  the 
rank  of  captain  to  Flora's  husband.  This  identified  the 
heroine  with  the  Royalist  party,  and  had  the  effect  of  secur- 
ing the  adhesion  of  hundreds  of  gallant  men  who  would  other- 
wise have  held  back  or  joined  the  other  side.  When  the 
Royal  Standard  was  raised  at  Cross  Creek,  1,500  High- 
landers assembled  in  arms.  Flora,  it  is  said,  accompanied 
her  husband,  and  inspired  the  men  with  her  own  enthusiasm. 
She  slept  the  first  night  in  the  camp,  and  did  not  return  to 
her  home  till  she  saw  the  troops  begin  their  march.  The  fate 
that  awaited  this  gallant  little  force  is  known  to  all  readers 
of  history.  It  had  got  down  the  river  as  far  as  Moore's 
Creek,  on  its  way  to  join  Governor  Martin,  when,  finding 
further  advance  checked  by  a  force  of  Revolutionists  under 
Lillington  and  Caswell,  while  another  under  Colonel  Moore 
was  hurrying  up  in  pursuit,  it  was  driven  to  attack  the 
enemy  in  front  on  ground  of  his  own  choosing.  In  the  first 
onslaught   its   ofiicers   fell,   confusion   ensued,    and   after   a 


THE  REVOLUTION  99 

severe  struggle  the  Highlanders  were  routed.     Flora's  hus- 
band was  taken  prisoner  and  thrown  into  Halifax  jail. 

Many  of  those  who  escaped  were  said  to  have  joined  an- 
other Highland  regiment  which  was  raised  for  the  King 
under  the  title  of  the  ¥orth  Carolina  Highlanders  and  fought 
the  Eevolutionists  till  the  close  of  the  war.  So  deeply 
had  they  identified  themselves  with  the  Eoyal  cause  that 
when  the  war  was  ended  most  of  them,  including  Flora  Mac- 
donald  and  her  husband,  left  America  and  returned  to  Scot- 
land. Those  who  remained  in  the  settlement,  divided  by 
the  war,  were  soon  reunited  by  peace,  became,  as  in  duty 
bound,  good  citizens,  and  resumed  the  task  of  taming  the 
savage  wilderness  in  which  they  had  cast  their  lot. 

When  the  troubles  between  ITorth  and  South  were  gather- 
ing to  a  head  in  1860,  the  Highlanders,  with  their  conserva- 
tive instincts,  were  almost  to  a  man  opposed  to  secession. 
But,  taught  to  believe  that  their  allegiance  was  due  pri- 
marily, not  to  the  Federal  Government  but  to  the  State,  no 
sooner  did  l^orth  Carolina  go  out  than  they,  with  Highland 
loyalty,  followed;  and  no  men  crowded  to  the  front  more 
eagerly,  or  fought  more  valiantly  or  more  desperately  to  the 
bitter  end. 

Almost  every  man  of  those  I  met  had  served  in  the  Con- 
federate Army,  and  had  left  dead  brothers  or  sons  on  the 
battlefield.  Others,  following  the  example  of  those  who  had 
left  Scotland  after  the  downfall  of  the  Stuarts,  and  America 
after  the  triumph  of  the  Revolution,  had  left  the  States 
altogether,  and  gone  off  to  Mexico. 

Amongst  those  I  found  at  Wilmington  was  one  who  was 
a  fine  specimen  of  the  material  that  the  Highlands  have  given 
to  Carolina,  a  tall,  dark-visaged,  soldierly  fellow— Gen. 
William  MacRae— whose  personal  valour  and  splendid  han- 
dling of  his  troops  in  battle  had  caused  him  to  be  repeatedly 
complimented  by  Lee  in  general  orders. 

He  seemed  to  belong  to  a  fighting  family.  His  eight 
brothers  had  all  been  either  in  the  Army  or  Kavy.     One  of 


100  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

them  was  in  the  ISTational  i^my  when  the  war  broke  out,  and 
considered  that  his  oath  bound  him  to  the  cause  of  the  Union. 
He  and  his  brothers  accordingly  fought  on  opposite  sides,  and 
in  one  battle,  it  is  said,  face  to  face.  Their  father,  Gen. 
Alexander  MacRae,  had  fought  in  the  war  with  England  in 
1812,  and,  on  the  outbreak  of  the  Confederate  war,  though 
then  a  man  of  seventy  years  of  age,  again  took  the  field,  and 
commanded  what  was  known  as  MacRae's  batallion.  He 
died  not  many  weeks  after  I  parted  from  him  at  Wilmington. 
He  was  the  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Alexander  MacRae,  minister 
of  Kintail,  two  of  whose  sons  fell  fighting  for  the  Pretender 
at  Culloden.  The  others  emigTated  to  jSTorth  Carolina,  and 
one  of  them,  Philip,  who  had  also  served  in  the  Prince's 
army,  cherished  so  deadly  a  hate  of  the  English  in  conse- 
quence of  the  atrocities  of  Cumberland,  that  he  would  never 
learn  the  English  language  but  spoke  Gaelic  to  the  day  of  his 
death.  The  family  settled  in  Moore  County,  which  is  part 
of  what  is  still  called  "The  Scotch  Country." 

The  Life  of  Flora  Macdonald  had  been  published  by 
her  granddaughter  in  the  form  of  an  autobiography,  said  to 
be  based  on  family  records.  The  following  is  the  passage 
in  which  the  Scottish  heroine  is  made  to  describe  the  episode 
in  her  life  connected  with  America : 

"In  1Y75  my  husband  put  in  practice  a  plan  he  and  I  often 
talked  over — that  of  joining  the  emigrants  who  were  leaving 
their  native  hills  to  better  their  fortunes  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Atlantic.  We  were  induced  to  favour  this  scheme  more 
particularly  as  a  succession  of  failures  of  the  crops  and  un- 
foreseen family  expenses  rather  cramped  our  small  income. 
So,  after  making  various  domestic  ai-rangements,  one  of 
which  was  to  settle  our  dear  boy  Johnnie  under  the  care  of  a 
kind  friend.  Sir  Alexander  McKenzie,  of  Delvin,  near  Dun- 
keld,  until  he  was  of  age  for  an  India  appointment,  we  took 
ship  for  North  America.  The  others  went  with  us,  my 
youngest  girl  excepted,  whom  I  left  with  friends;  she  was 
only  nine  years  old.  Ann  was  a  fine  young  woman,  and  my 
sons  as  promising  fellows   as  ever  a  mother  could  desire. 


THE  REVOLUTION  101 

Believe  me,  dear  Maggie,  in  packing  the  tHngs,  the  Prince's 
sheet  was  put  up  in  lavender,  so  determined  was  I  to  be  laid 
in  it  whenever  it  might  please  mj  Heavenly  Father  to  com- 
mand the  end  of  mj  days.  On  reaching  !N'orth  Carolina, 
Allan  soon  purchased  and  settled  upon  an  estate;  but  our 
tranquillity  was  ere  long  broken  up'  by  the  disturbed  state  of 
the  country,  and  my  husband  took  an  active  part  in  that 
dreadful  War  of  Independence.  The  Highlanders  were  now 
as  forward  in  evincing  attachment  to  the  British  Government 
as  they  had  furiously  opposed  it  in  former  years.  My  poor 
husband,  being  loyally  disposed,  was  treated  harshly  by  the 
opposite  party,  and  was  confined  for  some  time  in  jail  at 
Halifax.  After  being  liberated  he  was  officered  in  a  royal 
corps  —  the  ISTorth  Carolina  Highlanders ;  and  although 
America  suited  me  and  the  young  people,  yet  my  husband 
thought  it  advisable,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  to  quit  a 
country  that  had  involved  us  in  anxiety  and  trouble  almost 
from  the  first  month  of  our  landing  on  its  shores.  So,  at  a 
favourable  season  for  departure,  we  sailed  for  our  native 
country,  all  of  us,  excepting  our  sons,  Charles  and  Ronald, 
who  were  in  ]^ew  York  expecting  appointments,  which  they 
soon  after  obtained ;  Alexander  was  already,  dear  boy,  at  sea. 
Thus  our  family  was  reduced  in  number.  On  the  voyage 
home  all  went  well  until  the  vessel  encountered  a  French  ship 
of  war,  and  we  were  alarmed  on  finding  that  an  action  was 
likely  to  take  place.  The  captain  gave  order  for  the  ladies  to 
remain  below,  safe  from  the  skirmish;  but  I  could  not  rest 
quiet,  knowing  my  husband's  spirit  and  energy  would  carry 
him  into  the  thick  of  the  fighting ;  therefore  I  rushed  up  the 
companion-ladder — I  think  it  was  so  called — and  I  insisted 
on  remaining  on  deck  to  share  my  husband's  fate,  whatever 
that  might  be.  Well,  dear  Maggie,  thinking  the  sailors  were 
not  so  active  as  they  ought  to  have  been — and  they  appeared 
crest-fallen,  as  if  they  expected  a  defeat — I  took  courage  and 
urged  them  on  by  asserting  their  rights  and  the  certainty  of 
the  victory.  Alas !  for  my  weak  endeavors  to  be  of  service ; 
I  was  badly  rewarded,  being  thrown  down  in  the  noise  and 


102  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

confusion  on  deck.  I  was  fain  to  go  below,  suffering  ex- 
cruciating agonj  in  my  ann,  which  the  doctor,  who  was  for- 
tunately on  board,  pronounced  to  be  broken.  It  was  well 
set,  yet  from  that  time  to  this  it  has  been  considerably  weaker 
than  the  other.  So  you  see  I  have  periled  my  life  for  both 
the  houses  of  Stuart  and  Brunswick,  and  gained  nothing 
from  either  side !" 

Major  Jack  Walkeb. 

The  Cape  Fear  Country  has  just  cause  for  pride  in  the 
illustrious  characters  who  adorned  our  annals  during  the 
troublous  time  of  the  Revolution.  Among  them  was  one 
whose  career  was  almost  as  picturesque  as  that  of  Flora 
Macdonald — Maj .  Jack  Walker.  He  was  born  near  Alnwick 
Castle  under  the  shadow  of  the  Grampian  Hills,  and  while 
yet  a  youth  of  twenty  he  landed  at  Old  Brunswick  in  1761. 
In  stature  he  stood  six  feet  four,  and  he  possessed  enormous 
strength.  There  were  no  lions  for  him  to  conquer,  but  once 
when  a  mad  bull  raged  through  the  streets  of  Wilmington, 
Samson-like,  he  seized  the  infuriated  animal  by  the  horns, 
threw  him  to  the  ground  and  held  him.  As  major  of  the 
N'orth  Carolina  Continentals,  he  fought  valiantly  at  the 
!N"orth.  He  was  ever  a  warm  patriot  and  was  violent  against 
those  who  sympathized  with  the  Tories.  The  people  loved 
him  and  affectionately  called  him  "Major  Jack,"  and  he 
wielded  great  power  among  them.  Although  he  amassed  a 
considerable  fortune  he  never  married,  his  large  estate  de- 
scending to  a  favorite  nephew,  Maj.  John  Walker,  who  was 
the  father  of  Hon.  Thomas  D.  Walker,  Alvis  Walker,  John 
Walker,  Capt.  George  Walker,  Dr.  Joshua  C.  Walker, 
Henry  Walker,  Calhoun  Walker,  and  of  the  wives  of  Gen. 
W.  H.  C.  Whiting,  Maj.  James  H.  Hill,  Capt.  C.  P.  Bolles, 
Capt.  John  Cowan  and  Mr.  Frederick  Fosgate. 


Early  Years 

THE  FIRST  STEAMBOAT  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAR 
RIVER. 

Let  us  contrast  the  swift  steamer  Wilmington  with  the 
primitive  example  of  former  days— let  us  turn  back  for  three- 
quarters  of  a  century,  when  the  town  of  Wilmington  con- 
tained only  a  tenth  of  its  present  population,  and  recall  an 
incident,  related  to  the  writer  by  the  late  Col.  J.  G.  Burr, 
which  created  the  greatest  excitement  at  the  time,  and  which 
was  the  occasion  of  the  wildest  exuberance  of  feeling  among 
the  usuaUy  staid  inhabitants  of  the  town— the  arrival  of  the 
first  steamboat  in  the  Cape  Fear  River.     A  joint  stock  com- 
pany had  been  formed  for  the  purpose  of  having  one  built  to 
ply    between    Wilmington    and    Smithville    or    Wihnington 
and  Fayetteville.     Capt.  Otway  Burns,  of  privateer  Snap 
Dragon  fame  during  the  War  of  1812,  was  the  contractor. 
The  boat  was  built  at  Beaufort,  where  he  resided.     When  the 
company  was  informed  that  the  steamer  was  finished  and 
ready  for  delivery,  they  dispatched  an  experienced  sea  cap- 
tain to  take  command  and  bring  her  to  her  destined  port.  Ex- 
pectations were  on  tiptoe  after  the  departure  of  the  captain;  a 
feverish  excitement  existed  in  the  community,  which  daily 
increased,  as  nothing  was  heard  from  him  for  a  time,  owing 
to  the  irregularity  of  the  mails;  but  early  one  morning  this 
anxiety  broke  into  the  wildest  enthusiasm  when  it  was  an- 
nounced that  the  Prometheus  was  in  the  river  and  had  turned 
the  Dram  Tree.     Bells  were  rung,  cannon  fired,   and  the 
entire   population,    without   regard   to    age,    sex,    or    color, 
thronged  the  wharves  to  welcome  her  arrival.     The  tide  was 
at  the  ebb,  and  the  struggle  between  the  advancing  steamer 
and  the  fierce  current  was  a  desperate  one;  for  she  panted 
fearfully,  as  though  wind-blown  and  exhausted.     She  could 
be  seen  in  the  distance,  enveloped  in  smoke,  and  the  scream 
of  her  high-pressure  engine  reverberated  through  the  woods, 
while  she  slowly  but  surely  crept  along.    As  she  neared  Mar- 
ket Dock,  where  the  steamer  Wilmington  is  at  present  moored 


104  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  Captain  called  through  his  speaking-trumpet  to  the  engi- 
neer below:  "Give  it  to  her,  Snyder";  and  while  Snyder 
gave  her  all  the  steam  she  could  bear,  the  laboring  Prome- 
tJieiLS  snorted  by,  amid  the  cheers  of  the  excited  multitude. 
In  those  days  the  river  traffic  was  sustained  by  sailing  sloops 
and  small  schooners,  with  limited  passenger  accommodations 
and  less  comfort.  The  schedule  time  to  Smithville,  was  four 
hours,  wind  and  weather  permitting,  and  the  fare  was  one 
dollar  each  way. 

Note. — In  April,  1819,  President  Monroe  was  carried  on  the 
Prometheus  from  Wilmington  to  Smithville.  Steamboats  were 
used  on  the  Cape  Fear  very  early  after  their  introduction. 

On  October  16,  1818,  the  Henrietta  began  to  run  regularly  between 
Wilmington  and  Fayetteville. 


THE  DISASTROUS  YEAR  OF  1819. 

The  growth  of  Wilmington  was  naturally  slow,  notwith- 
standing the  energy  of  her  inhabitants.  Indeed,  because  of 
the  constant  exodus  of  J^orth  Carolinians  to  the  new  coun- 
try at  the  West  and  South,  the  population  of  the  State  hardly 
increased  at  all  during  the  early  years  of  the  last  century. 
The  population  of  ISTew  Hanover  County  in  1810,  was  11,465, 
and  in  1820,  it  had  fallen  off  to  10,866.  In  1820,  the  popu- 
lation of  Wilmington  was  whites,  1,098,  slaves,  1,433,  free 
negroes,  102  ;  a  total  of  2,633. 

Especially,  because  of  the  absence  of  good  roads  and  facili- 
ties for  transportation — save  by  the  river  to  Fayetteville — 
there  was  but  little  opportunity  for  extending  the  trade  of 
the  town. 

Further,  the  trouble  with  England,  the  embargo,  the  inter- 
ruption of  commerce  by  the  War  of  1812-15,  ynth.  the  attend- 
ant financial  embarrassments,  brought  loss  and  ruin  in  their 
train. 

Superadded  was  the  scourge  of  yellow  fever  during  the 
summer  of  1819,  the  disease  in  that  season  being  more  preva- 
lent throughout  the  Southern  and  Middle  Atlantic  States  than 
has  ever  been  known.     Baltimore,  as  well  as  the  more  south- 


EARLY  YEARS  105 

em  ports,  was  entirely  paralyzed.  As  in  1862,  many  fami- 
lies fled  from  Wilmington  into  the  interior. 

Hardly  had  the  desolation  subsided  and  commerce  revived, 
when  Wilmington  was  visited  by  the  most  disastrous  confla- 
gration recorded  in  its  history.  The  total  loss,  as  stated  by 
some  standard  authorities,  was  about  one  million  dollars,  but 
the  Wilmington  Recorder  estimated  it  at  between  six  and 
seven  hundred  thousand  dollars — an  almost  total  obliteration 
of  the  wealth  of  the  town. 

We  quote  from  the  Raleigh  Register  and  North  Carolina 
State  Gazette  of  Friday,  ISTovember  12,  1819. 

It  is  our  painful  duty  to  register  a  very  extensive  and  calamitous 
fire  which  took  place  at  Wilmington  in  our  State;  and  we  do  it 
with  those  strong  feelings  of  sympathy  and  regret  which  such 
events  naturally  inspire.  We  cannot  portray  the  circumstances  in 
which  the  town  was  placed  more  feelingly  than  it  is  depicted  by  the 
Editor  of  the  Cape  Fear  Recorder;  "who  feels  them  most  can  paint 
them  best." 

Fire!  Wilmington  (says  the  Recorder)  has  experienced  more 
awful  calamities  by  fire  than  any  other  place  in  the  Union.  Thrice, 
within  twenty  years,  has  the  devouring  element  laid  in  ashes  the 
abodes  of  her  inhabitants.  Enterprise,  industry  and  the  assistance 
of  her  neighbors,  gave  her,  measurably,  resuscitation,  until  the 
recent  pressure  of  the  times  bended  her  down  almost  to  the  sink- 
ing point.  Embarrassments  in  pecuniary  matters  had  reached  that 
state  which  appeared  to  baflSe  relief.  Sickness  and  death  followed 
in  the  melancholy  train.  Despair  had  almost  concluded  that  she 
could  not  sink  beyond  this.  Hope,  the  bright  luminary  by  which 
man's  path  in  this  world  of  care  is  heightened  and  cheered,  brought 
consolation,  and  pointed  to  better  days.  Disease  had  ceased — • 
the  periodical  work  of  death  completed — the  late  deserted  abodes 
of  her  inhabitants  filling — vessels  arriving  daily  in  her  port — 
the  appearance  of  business  reviving.  On  Thursday  morning,  the 
4th  inst.,  about  three  o'clock,  the  cry  of  the  fire  was  given,  and  the 
delusion   vanished.      Her    bright   hopes   were    destroyed. 

The  frightful  picture  is  before  us  and  it  is  our  duty  to  present  it 
to  our  distant  readers.  The  fire  originated  back  of  a  small  building 
occupied  by  Mr.  Samuel  Adkins  as  a  grocery  store,  situated  on  the 
wharf,  near  Dock  Street,  and  adjoining  the  large  brick  warehouse 
lately  occupied  as  the  '76  Coffee-house,  in  part  of  which  was  the 
oflBce  and  counting  house  of  Gabriel  Holmes,  Esq. 

From  the  best  calculation  we  can  make,  the  whole  number  of 
houses  destroyed  was  about  three  hundred,  of  every  description,  in- 
cluding the  Presbyterian  Church,  lately  erected;  and  the  total  loss 
of  property  between  six  and  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars. 


106  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

The  following  persons  are  those  who  have  lost  by  the  destruction 
of  buildings: 

Col.  Archibald  F.  McNeill,  John  London,  Col.  Thos.  Cowan,  John 
Swann,  jr.,  Wm.  McKay,  Estate  of  Thomas  Jennings,  Seth  Hoard, 
Joseph  Kellogg,  Estate  of  J.  London,  Mrs.  McRee,  Jacob  Levy,  Rich- 
ard Bradley,  Edward  B.  Dudley,  Wm.  J.  Love,  S.  Springs,  James 
Dickson,  Hanson  Kelly,  David  Smith,  Henry  Urquhart,  John  Walker, 
Geo.  Jennings,  Robert  Rankin,  State  Bank,  Estate  of  Nehemiah 
Harris,  Estate  of  James  Allen,  M.  Blake,  Estate  of  M.  Murphy, 
James  Usher,  Mrs.  Hoskins,  Mrs.  Toomer,  William  Harris,  James 
Marshall,  Estate  of  P.  Harris,  Louis  Pagget,  Estate  of  Hilliary 
Moore,  Reuben  Loring,  Wm.  C.  Lord,  Gilbert  Geer.  This  list  is  no 
doubt  incomplete. 

Among  those  who  suffered  by  the  destruction  of  other  property 
the  principal  in  amount  are,  Isaac  Arnold,  Edmund  Bridge,  jr., 
Eleazar  Tilden,  Dudley  and  Van  Cleef,  Dudley  and  Dickinson,  Miles 
Blake,  Seth  Hoard,  Rd.  Lloyd,  J.  Angomar,  George  Lloyd,  H.  Wooster, 
Patrick  Murphy,  B.  C.  Gillett,  W.  C.  Radclift,  Stewart  Robson. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  individual 
losses.  Every  person  within  the  bounds  of  the  fire,  and  all  those 
without  it  who  removed  their  property,  lost  more  or  less.  But  the 
extent  of  a  loss,  as  it  regards  merely  its  amount,  is  not  the  criterion 
of  its  injury — it  is  he  that  has  lost  his  all,  the  unprotected,  the 
friendless,  and  the  helpless,  that  ought  to  excite  our  pity  and  com- 
passion, and  calls  for  our  assistance. 

Only  one  life  was  lost — Captain  Farquhar  McRae,  after  the  fire 
had  almost  subsided,  who  ventured  within  a  building  for  the  pur- 
pose of  saving  property  not  his  own.  The  walls  fell,  he  was  crushed 
to  atoms.  He  was  a  useful  citizen  in  his  sphere  of  life  and  would 
have  been  regretted  even  had  he  died  on  the  couch  of  disease. 

To  the  sufferings  of  others,  Wilmington  has  never  remained  in- 
different— limited  as  were  her  means,  to  know  them  was  all  that 
was  necessary  for  her  to  contribute  her  mite.  She  is  now  in  distress 
— hundreds  of  her  inhabitants  are  suffering.  The  knowledge  of  her 
situation  will,  we  are  certain,  confer  relief. 

And  all  this  is  the  work  of  an  incendiary.  Suspicion  has  been 
afloat,  but  we  suspect  it  has  not  been  directed  toward  the  right  per- 
son. Higher  views  than  those  of  plunder  must  have  been  the  object, 
for  we  have  heard  of  not  much  success  and  of  very  few  attempts. 

(Raleigh  Register  and  North  Carolina  State  Gazette,  Friday,  December  3, 1819.) 

Wilmington  Fike — We  have  pleasure  in  stating  that  a  subscription 
has  been  opened  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers  by  this  disastrous 
event,  not  only  among  the  citizens  of  Raleigh,  but  among  the 
members  of  both  houses  of  the  Legislature.  The  precise  amount  is 
not  at  present  ascertained;  but  we  trust  it  will  be  such  as  will  show 
the  liberality  of  the  subscribers,  considering  the  hardness  of  the 
times. 


EARLY  YEARS  107 

NEGRO  INSUREECTIOK 

A  distressing  incident  took  place  on  the  Cape  Fear  just 
after  the  ISTat  Turner  Insurrection  in  Virginia.  All  along  the 
coast  the  negroes  seem  to  have  been  excited  and  inflamed,  and 
plots  of  insurrections  were  entered  into  at  various  points. 
At  Wilmington  such  a  plot  was  discovered,  and  there  was 
much  alarm  felt  on  the  Sound  and  on  the  isolated  farms  in 
the  country,  and  the  women  and  children  who  could  hurried 
into  town  for  safety.  Information  was  at  once  dispatched  to 
the  officers  at  Fort  Johnston,  and  immediately  a  company  of 
soldiers  hastened  to  Wilmington.  Their  arrival  was  entirely 
unexpected  by  the  negro  leaders,  who  quickly  realized  that 
their  plans  were  known. 

Colonel  Burr  has  left  an  account  of  the  trial  of  the  ring- 
leaders, from  which  the  following  is  summarized:  At  the 
FaU  Term  of  the  Superior  Court  of  'New  Hanover  County, 
1831,  six  negroes  were  placed  on  trial,  charged  with  attempt- 
ing to  incite  an  insurrection  among  the  blacks  against  the 
whites.  The  horrid  massacre  of  the  whites,  men,  women,  and 
children,  in  the  ISTat  Turner  rising  had  recently  occurred,  but 
although  there  was  much  feeling  in  the  community,  the  trial 
was  conducted  with  the  utmost  fairness  and  impartiality. 
The  negroes  had  the  benefit  of  the  ablest  counsel  their  owners 
could  obtain.  That  distinguished  jurist.  Honorable  Eobert 
Strange,  subsequently  United  States  Senator,  and  grand- 
father of  Bishop  Strange,  presided  with  great  dignity.  Mr. 
Alexander  Troy  was  Solicitor,  and  the  Court  appointed  Mr. 
Joseph  Alston  Hill  to  assist  the  solicitor,  and  in  fact  he  con- 
ducted the  trial  throughout.    Colonel  Burr  says : 

I  shall  never  forget  the  impression  made  upon  me  by  the  death- 
like silence  that  reigned  in  that  crowded  court  room  when  Mr.  Hill 
rose  to  address  the  jury.  His  exordium  was  delivered  in  calm  and 
composed  manner,  and  without  the  least  exhibition  of  feeling,  but 
as  he  proceeded  in  his  argument  he  seemed  to  be  transformed,  his 
crest  rose,  his  form  dilated,  and  his  eyes  flashed  continuous  fire, 
while  his  rapid  but  graceful  gesticulation  added  much  to  the  impres- 
siveness  of  the  scene.  His  denunciation  was  overwhelming,  his 
sarcasm  withering,  and  his  burning  eloquence  flowed  onward  and 


108  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

onward  like  the  rush  of  a  mighty  mountain  torrent.  The  doom  of 
the  prisoners  at  the  bar  was  sealed;  it  could  be  seen  in  the  com- 
pressed lips  and  clinched  hands  of  the  jury. 

Mr.  Burr  adds:  "Tlie  six  criminals  who  were  convicted 
were  executed  together  on  the  same  scaffold." 

As  far  as  known  this  was  the  only  movement  of  the  kind  in 
the  history  of  the  Cape  Fear. 

On  the  other  hand,  during  the  War  between  the  States, 
which  arose  because  of  the  existence  of  domestic  slavery  at 
the  South — when  the  negroes  knew  that  President  Lincoln 
had  declared  them  free — there  was  no  insurrection  anywhere 
in  the  Southern  States;  and  while  the  country  was  denuded 
of  the  white  men  who  were  away  from  their  farms  in  the 
Army,  the  negroes  protected  the  white  women  and  children, 
and  served  them  with  fidelity.  This  general  fact  and  the  gen- 
eral display  of  sincere  affection  and  devotion  by  the  negroes 
to  the  families  of  their  ovmers  record  more  certainly  than 
words  can  the  attitude  of  the  races  at  the  South  towards  each 
other  during  slavery  times,  even  though  one  race  was  in  sub- 
jection to  the  other. 


PLAKTATIOI^S  0:^r  THE  iq"ORTHEAST  EIVEE. 

By  Dk.  John  Hampden  Hill. 

About  41  years  ago  Dr.  John  Hampden  Hill,  a  promi- 
nent Cape  Fear  planter  of  Lilliput,  a  gentleman  of  culture 
and  refinement,  generally  respected  and  admired,  wrote  some 
interesting  reminiscences  of  the  lower  Cape  Fear  and  for 
personal  reasons  instructed  his  friend,  Mr.  DuBrutz  Cutlar, 
to  reserve  them  from  publication  until  after  the  author's 
death.  Upon  my  earnest  solicitation,  however,  he  permitted 
me  to  copy  these  papers  in  the  year  1893  and  to  use  them  in  a 
series  of  newspaper  articles  entitled  A  Colonial  Plantation. 
I  reproduce  them  here  as  worthy  of  more  permanent  record. 

Doctor  Hill  was  born  April  28,  1807,  at  Hyrneham,  and 
died  February  19,  1893,  at  Goldsboro,  full  of  years  and  the 
consolations  of  an  honorable  Christian  life. 


EARLY  YEARS  109 

In  the  year  1665,  Sir  John  Yeamans,  of  the  Island  of 
Barbadoes,  fitted  out  a  small  vessel,  and  sent  her  under  the 
command  of  a  Captain  Hilton,  on  a  voyage  of  discovery,  Hil- 
ton, according  to  instructions,  explored  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver. 
Sir  John  Yeamans,  himself,  afterwards  visited  the  Cape 
Fear,  and  brought  a  colony  with  him,  and  made  a  settlement 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  river. 

ISTot  designing  to  follow  the  progress  of  Yeamans  with  his 
colony,  we  will  return  to  the  Cape  Fear,  of  whose  early  tradi- 
tion the  writer  has  undertaken,  at  the  solicitation  of  some 
highly  valued  friends,  to  narrate  (so  far  as  his  memory 
serves)  some  imperfect  sketches. 

After  this  section  began  to  be  visited,  and  settlements  made 
by  emigrants  from  Europe  and  from  the  other  provinces, 
amongst  the  earliest  places  that  attracted  attention,  was  Stag 
Park.  It  was  first  located  and  patented  by  George  Burring- 
ton,  then  Governor  of  the  Province  of  ISTorth  Carolina.  This 
Governor  Burrington  was  a  very  worthless  and  profligate 
character,  so  much  so,  that  on  one  occasion  being  at  Edenton, 
he  was  presented  by  the  Grand  Jury  of  Chowan  County  for 
riotous  and  disorderly  conduct  on  the  streets,  with  a  party  of 
rowdy  companions.  Of  such  material  as  this  did  our  English 
rulers  make  governors  for  the  guardianship  of  the  lives  and 
fortunes  of  their  loyal  subjects  in  these  provinces. 

After  having  disgraced  himself  in  America,  Burrington  re- 
turned to  England,  where,  still  pursuing  his  profligate  habits, 
he  not  long  after  lost  his  life  in  a  street  brawl  in  the  city  of 
London.  Before  that  event  he  had  contracted  a  debt  to  a 
Mr.  Strudwick,  for  which  he  mortgaged  the  Stag  Park  es- 
tate of  ten  thousand  acres,  and  a  large  body  of  land  which  he 
owned  in  what  was  known  as  the  Hawfields  in  Orange  County. 
]\Ir.  Strudwick  sent  his  son,  Edmund,  to  look  after  his  prop- 
erty, thus  acquired  in  this  country. 

The  tradition  was  that  this  gentleman  had  fallen  into 
disfavor  with  his  friends  on  account  of  having  married  an 
actress  in  the  city  of  London,  which  was  the  cause  of  his 
coming  to  settle  in  America.     His  residence  was  divided  be- 


110  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

tween  Stag  Park  and  the  Hawfields.  He  left  a  son  wliom  the 
writer  has  only  heard  mentioned  as  Major  Strudwick  and  as 
quite  an  influential  citizen  of  Orange  County,  where  he 
chiefly  resided.  He  married  a  Miss  Shepperd,  of  Orange, 
by  which  marriage  there  were  several  sons  and  daughters,  of 
whom  the  late  Mr.  Samuel  Strudwick,  of  Alabama,  was  the 
eldest.  This  gentleman  was  a  successful  planter  and  acquired 
a  large  estate.  He  was  of  high  intelligence,  and  remarkable 
for  his  fine  conversational  talent. 

Dr.  Edmund  Strudwick,  of  Hillsboro,  is  well  known  as  one 
of  the  ablest  physicians  of  the  State,  and  is  especially  eminent 
as  a  surgeon.  Betsy,  the  eldest  daughter,  married  Mr.  Paoli 
Ashe,  and  was  the  mother  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  S.  Ashe,  one 
of  the  Associate  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  iTorth 
Cai'olina,  and  a  gentleman  distinguished  alike  for  profes- 
sional ability  and  great  worth  and  purity  of  character. 

Stag  Park  was  sold  about  the  year  1817  for  division  among 
the  heirs,  and  was  purchased  by  Ezekiel  Lane,  Esq.,  for 
$10,000.  This  gentleman  we  will  have  occasion  to  mention 
further  on. 

The  next  place,  descending  the  ITortheast,  is  the  Neck, 
the  residence  of  Gov.  Samuel  Ashe,  who,  together  with 
his  brother,  Gen.  John  Ashe,  was  amongst  the  most  promi- 
nent and  influential  characters  in  the  Cape  Fear  region,  both 
before  and  after  the  Eevolutionary  "War.  Governor  Ashe 
held  with  distinction  the  position  of  District  Judge  up  to  the 
time  of  his  election  as  GiDvernor  of  the  State.  His  eldest  son, 
John  Baptista  Ashe,  was  also  elected  Governor,  but  died  be- 
fore he  could  be  inducted  into  ofl&ce.  There  were  two  other 
sons  of  Governor  Ashe,  Samuel  and  Thomas.  The  latter  was 
the  grandfather  of  the  present  Judge  Ashe,  already  spoken  of, 
and  the  former  will  be  mentioned  further  on.  There  was  still 
another  son,  named  Cincinnatus,  who  vtdth  some  other  youths 
of  the  Cape  Pear  gentry  volunteered  as  midshipman  on  board 
a  privateer,  fitted  out  at  Wilmington,  and  commanded  by  a 
Captain  Allen,  an  Englishman.  The  vessel  went  to  sea,  and 
was  supposed  to  have  been  sunk  by  a  British  ship,  or  found- 


EARLY  YEARS  111 

ered  in  some  other  way,  as  she  was  never  more  heard  of.  The 
writer  remembers  when  he  was  a  child,  an  old  lady,  a  Mrs. 
Allen,  entirely  blind,  the  widow  of  the  English  captain,  who 
lived  with  the  families  of  the  J^ortheast,  first  one  and  then 
another,  with  whom  she  was  always  a  welcome  guest,  and 
treated  with  much  respect  and  consideration. 

Below  the  IsTeck,  and  within  the  precinct  known  as  Eocky 
Point,  was  Green  Hill,  the  residence  of  Gen.  John  Ashe. 
This  gentleman  did  more,  probably,  than  any  other  man  in  the 
Province  towards  rousing  the  spirit  of  resistance  against 
what  was  called  British  oppression.  He  was  the  prime  mover 
and  leader  of  the  party  which  resisted  the  Governor  in  his 
attempt  to  enforce  the  Stamp  Act.  And  when  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  did  break  out,  he  raised  a  regiment  at  his  own 
expense,  so  ardently  were  his  feelings  enlisted  in  the  cause. 

The  history  of  General  Ashe's  services  is,  or  ought  to  be, 
known  to  the  people  of  the  Cape  Fear.  But  it  may  not  be 
known  that  he  died  in  obscurity,  and  the  place  of  his  inter- 
ment cannot  be  pointed  out.  The  story  is  that  on  a  visit  to 
his  family  at  Green  Hill  when  in  feeble  health,  he  was  be- 
trayed by  a  faithless  servant  to  a  party  of  soldiers,  sent  out 
from  the  garrison  at  Wilmington  for  his  capture.  Taken  to 
Wilmington,  he  was  confined  in  Craig's  "bull-pen,"  as  it  was 
called.  Here  his  health  became  so  feeble  that  he  was  re- 
leased on  parole,  and  attempted  to  get  to  his  family  at  Hills- 
boro.  But  he  reached  no  farther  than  Sampson  Hall,  the 
residence  of  Col.  John  Sampson,  in  the  county  of  that  name, 
Here  he  died  and  was  buried,  and  there  is  neither  stone  nor 
mound  to  mark  the  spot. 

General  Ashe  left  a  son  who  also  had  served  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution — Maj.  Samuel  Ashe.  He  was  an  active 
politician  of  the  Democrat-Republican  party,  and  represented 
for  many  years  the  County  of  I^ew  Hanover  in  the  Legis- 
lature. Of  the  three  daughters  of  General  Ashe,  one  married 
Colonel  Alston,  of  South  Carolina.  Gov.  Joseph  Alston  of 
South  Carolina  was  her  son.  Another  married  Mr.  John 
Davis;  and  the  third,  Mr.  William  H.  Hill.     The  last  was 


112  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  mother  of  Mr.  Joseph  Alston  Hill,  the  most  talented 
man  of  the  family,  with  the  most  brilliant  promise  of  dis- 
tinction when  he  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-six.  This  Green 
Hill  property  is  now  owned  by  the  estate  of  the  late  Maj. 
John  Walker. 

The  Ashe  family  in  early  times  after  the  Eevolution  dif- 
fered in  polities  with  the  generality  of  the  Cape  Fear  gentry. 
The  Governor  and  his  sons,  with  the  exception  of  Col.  Samuel 
Ashe,  were  leaders  of  the  Republican  or  Jeffersonian  faction, 
whereas  the  large  majority  of  the  gentry  and  educated  class 
were  Federalists  of  the  Hamilton  school.  After  the  adoption 
of  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  a  Republican  form  of  gov- 
ernment was  established,  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  a  good 
deal  of  feeling  and  prejudice  existed  against  what  was  called 
too  much  liberty  and  equality,  and  the  practice  of  some  of 
the  old  Republicans  was  not  always  consistent  with  their 
professed  principles. 

The  next  place  of  note,  and  adjoining  Green  Hill  to  the 
north,  was  Moseley  Hall,  the  residence  of  the  Moseley  family, 
and  one  of  prominence  in  colonial  times.  One  of  them,  Samp- 
son Moseley,  Esq.,  was  a  member  of  the  King's  Council  and 
Surveyor  General  of  the  Province,  but  the  writer  does  not 
know  that  any  of  the  male  members  of  the  family  survived 
the  Revolution,  or  that  any  of  their  descendants  whatever 
are  left.  They  were  nearly  allied  by  blood  to  the  Lillingtons. 
One  of  the  daughters  of  the  family  married  a  Mr.  Carlton 
Walker,  and  left  one  son,  John  Moseley  Walker,  who  died 
soon  after  coming  of  age,  and  the  estate  passed  to  his  half 
brothers  and  sisters.  This  was  a  large  and  quite  valuable 
place  and  was  said  to  have  been  handsomely  improved,  but 
all  that  the  writer  remembers  seeing  were  the  remains  of 
what  were  said  to  have  been  fine  old  avenues. 

Crossing  Clayton  Creek,  we  come  to  the  next  place  below, 
known  in  old  times  as  Clayton  Hall,  the  residence  of  a  Mr. 
Clayton,  a  Scotch  gentleman,  who  died  leaving  no  descend- 
ants, though  I  believe  the  Restons  of  Wilmington  were  his 
nearest  kin.    This  property,  which  was  at  one  time  regarded 


EARLY  YEARS  113 

as  the  best  plantation  in  l^ew  Hanover  County,  was  pur- 
chased hj  Col.  Samuel  Ashe.  Colonel  Ashe,  when  I  knew 
him,  was  about  the  only  survivor  of  the  olden  times  on  the 
Northeast  Eiver.  He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  the 
Kevolution,  had  entered  the  Army  when  he  was  but  seven- 
teen years  old  and  served  through  the  last  three  years  of  the 
war,  was  at  the  siege  of  Charleston,  and  was  there  made 
prisoner.  Colonel  Ashe  was  a  gentleman  of  commanding  ap- 
pearance, tall  and  erect,  with  prominent  features,  deep- 
sunken,  but  piercing  eyes,  of  fine  manners  and  bearing,  of 
remarkable  colloquial  powers,  and  manner  and  style  of  narra- 
tion most  engaging.  Especially  was  his  fund  of  anecdotes 
and  incidents  relating  to  the  olden  times  most  interesting,  and 
seemed  almost  inexhaustible.  Of  him  Mr.  George  Davis,  in 
his  address  at  Chapel  Hill  in  1855,  spoke  as  follows:  "In 
my  early  youth  I  remember  an  old  man,  bowed  by  age  and 
infirmities,  but  of  noble  front  and  most  commanding  presence. 
Old  and  young  gathered  around  him  in  love  and  veneration 
to  listen  to  his  stories  of  the  olden  times.  And  as  he  spoke 
of  his  country's  trials,  and  of  the  deeds  and  sufferings  of  her 
sons,  his  eyes  flashed  with  the  ardor  of  youth,  and  his  voice 
rang  like  the  battle  charge  of  a  bugle.  He  was  the  soul  of 
truth  and  honor,  with  the  ripe  wisdom  of  a  man,  and  the 
guileless  simplicity  of  a  child.  He  won  strangers  to  him 
with  a  look,  and  those  who  knew  him  loved  him  with  a  most 
filial  affection.  JSTone  ever  lived  more  honored  and  revered. 
!N'one  ever  died  leaving  a  purer  or  more  cherished  memory. 
This  was  Colonel  Samuel  Ashe,  ^the  last  of  all  the  Romans.'  " 
The  old  Clayton  Hall  mansion,  left  for  a  long  time  un- 
tenanted, went  to  decay,  and  there  was  nothing  left  of  it  when 
the  writer  can  remember  but  the  foundation.  He  can  remem- 
ber an  old  vault,  which  stood  to  the  north  of  the  creek,  in 
which  it  is  said  the  remains  of  Mr.  Clayton  rested.  After 
Colonel  Ashe  came  in  possession  of  the  place,  he  built  imme- 
diately on  the  bank  of  the  creek,  so  that  you  could  stand  on 
one  end  of  his  piazza  and  fish.  The  spring  out  of  which  they 
got  their  drinking  water  flowed  from  the  base  of  a  rock,  which 


114  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

formed  the  bank  of  the  creek,  and  when  the  tide  was  up,  the 
spring  was  overflowed. 

It  was  a  great  treat  to  visit  the  old  Colonel  and  hear  him 
talk  of  old  times.  His  memory  was  remarkable,  and  his 
style  of  narration  uncommonly  good. 

He  seemed  familiar  with  the  genealogy  of  every  family  that 
had  ever  lived  on  the  Cape  Fear,  and  their  traditions.  It  is 
much  to  be  regretted  that  some  one  who  had  the  capacity  could 
not  have  chronicled  his  narratives  as  they  were  related  by 
himself. 

Colonel  Ashe  removed  from  Rocky  Point  when  he  was 
well  advanced  in  years,  to  a  place  which  he  ovmed  on 
the  Cape  Fear,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fayetteville,  where  he 
lived  several  years.  His  only  male  descendant  of  the  name 
in  the  State,  I  believe,  is  Samuel  A.  Ashe,  Esq.,  of  Raleigh. 

Colonel  Ashe,  on  his  removal,  sold  the  Clayton  Hall  estate 
to  Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  who  retired  from  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  Wilmington  and  made  his  residence  here,  where 
he  carried  on  planting  operations  with  fair  success.  He 
abandoned  the  old  settlement,  and  built  on  what  was  known 
as  the  Sand  Ridge,  and  renamed  the  place,  calling  it  Ashe- 
Moore,  in  compliment  to  the  two  families  so  long  known  and 
distinguished  in  the  Cape  Fear  region.  Dr.  McRee  had  ac- 
quired a  higher  reputation  than  any  other  physician  of  his 
day  in  the  Cape  Fear  region,  or  even  in  the  whole  State.  The 
writer  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  being  his  pupil,  and  of  his 
long  friendship,  and  to  speak  of  him  in  such  terms  as  he 
esteemed  him,  as  a  noble  gentleman  and  physician,  might 
seem  like  extravagant  eulogy. 

The  next  place  on  the  river  is  the  Vats.  Here  the  river 
changes  its  course,  making  a  pretty  sudden  bend,  and  a  prom- 
inent point  of  rocks  jutting  into  the  stream  gives  the  name 
of  Rocky  Point  to  all  that  portion  of  country  lying  west,  as 
far  as  the  Wilmington  &  Weldon  Railroad.  This  place  waa 
first  located  by  Col.  Maurice  Moore,  one  of  the  earliest 
pioneers  of  the  Cape  Fear  section.  It  is  related  that  Colonel 
Moore  and  Governor  Burrington,  both  of  them  exploring  in 


EARLY  YEARS  115 

searcli  of  ricli  lands,  happened  to  reacli  this  point  about  the 
same  time.  As  they  stepped  on  shore  from  their  boats,  both 
claimed  possession  by  right  of  prior  location  and  occupation. 
But  the  Colonel  stoutly  resisted  his  Excellency's  pretensions, 
and  by  dint  of  strong  will  held  the  property.  The  arbitrary 
disposition  exhibited  on  this  occasion  rather  strikingly  illus- 
trates what  is  said  to  have  been  characteristic  of  the  Moore 
family,  especially  that  branch  of  it.  The  lands  of  this  place 
were  very  rich,  and  it  continued  in  the  Moore  family  for 
several  generations.  It  was  finally  sold  by  Judge  Alfred 
Moore  to  Mr.  Ezekiel  Lane,  a  most  worthy  gentleman,  who 
here  laid  the  foundation  of  quite  a  large  estate,  acquired  by 
farming  alone.  Commencing  with  small  means  he  became 
the  largest  landowner  in  the  county  of  'New  Hanover,  his 
estate  being  mostly  composed  of  those  Rocky  Point  lands. 

The  next  two  places  adjoining  and  to  the  south  of  the  Vats, 
were  Spring  Field  and  Strawberry,  owned  by,  and  the  latter 
place  the  residence  of  Mr.  Levin  Lane,  a  son  of  Mr.  E. 
Lane,  a  planter  like  his  father,  and  a  most  worthy  and  highly 
respectable  gentleman. 

Let  us  return  to  the  Vats  and  cross  the  river  by  the  ferry 
there;  traveling  eastward  by  the  New  Bern  road  about 
four  miles,  we  come  to  Lillington  Hall,  the  residence  of  Gen. 
Alexander  Lillington.  It  would  seem  like  a  singular  selec- 
tion for  a  gentleman  to  have  made  for  a  residence,  just 
on  the  border  of  the  great  Holly  Shelter  pocosin  or  dismals, 
and  quite  remote  from  the  other  gentry  settlements.  But  in 
those  days  stock  raising  was  much  attended  to,  and  here  im- 
mense tracts  of  unoccupied  lands  furnished  rich  pasturage 
and  fine  range. 

General  Lillington  was  nearly  allied  to  the  Moseleys,  of 
Moseley  Hall,  and  came  to  reside  on  the  Cape  Fear  about  the 
same  time  with  them.  He  was  an  ardent  Whig  and  patriot, 
and  taking  up  arms  early  in  the  Revolution,  he  soon  distin- 
guished himself  as  a  bold  and  sagacious  leader.  On  the  at- 
tempt of  the  Scotch  settlers  about  Cross  Creek  to  move  on 


116  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Wilmin^on  for  the  purpose  of  cooperating  with  the  British 
force  intended  to  invade  and  subjugate  Xorth  Carolina,  Gen- 
eral Lillington  speedily  organized  the  militia  of  ISTew  Han- 
over and  Duplin  Counties  and  marched  rapidly  in  the  direc- 
tion from  which  the  enemy  approached.  Selecting  a  position 
at  Moore's  Creek  where  it  was  crossed  by  a  bridge,  he  threw 
up  intrenchments  and  awaited  the  approach  of  the  Scots.  On 
the  arrival  of  General  Caswell,  the  superior  in  command,  he 
approved  of  Lillington's  plans  and  arrangements  for  meeting 
the  enemy.  The  result  of  the  battle  which  ensued  is  well 
known  to  history,  and  its  success  was,  by  his  contemporaries, 
mainly  attributed  to  Lillington's  prompt  movement  and  skill- 
ful arrangements. 

The  Lillington  Hall  mansion  was  a  quaint  old  structure  of 
ante-Eevolutionary  date,  and  standing  alone,  there  was  no 
house  that  approached  it  in  size  or  appearance  in  that  wild 
region.  When  the  writer  visited  there  while  a  youth  there 
was  quite  a  library  of  rare  old  English  books,  which  would  be 
highly  prized  at  this  day.  At  that  time  it  was  owned  and 
occupied  by  Mr.  Samuel  Black,  a  highly  respectable  and 
worthy  gentleman,  who  had  married  the  widow  of  Mr.  John 
Lillington,  the  youngest  son  of  the  Colonel.  This  place,  like 
all  the  residences  of  the  early  gentry,  has  gone  out  of  the 
family  and  into  stranger  hands. 

As  there  is  no  other  place  of  note  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river,  we  will  recross  the  ferry  at  the  Vats,  and  following  the 
road  leading  west  to  where  it  crosses  the  main  county  road, 
we  come  to  Moore  Fields.  This  was  the  residence  of  George 
Moore,  Esq.,  one  of  the  most  prominent  gentlemen  of  his  day, 
both  before  and  after  the  Eevolution.  I  remember  the  old 
mansion  as  it  stood,  but  much  dilapidated.  Not  a  vestige 
of  it  is  left  now.  There  had  been  raised  near  the  house  two 
mounds  for  rabbit-warrens,  and  near  by  was  a  fishpond.  Mr. 
Moore  was  the  father  of  a  numerous  progeny.  He  was  twice 
married.  His  first  wife  was  a  Miss  Mary  Ashe,  a  sister,  I 
believe,  of  Governor  Ashe;  the  second  was  a  Miss  Jones. 
There  is  extant  an  old  copy  of  the  Church  of  England  prayer- 


EARLY  YEARS  117 

book  in  the  possession  of  one  of  Ms  descendants  (Dr.  Wm.  H. 
Moore)  in  which  is  recorded  the  births  and  names  of  his 
children  by  these  marriages,  and  there  were  twenty-seven. 
From  these  or  the  sunavors,  for  many  of  them  must  have 
died  during  infancy,  have  sprung  many  of  the  families  of  the 
Cape  Fear  region,  some  of  whose  descendants  are  still  living 
there,  among  whom  can  be  mentioned  the  Hon.  George  Davis, 
who  has  no  superior  if  any  equal  here  or  in  any  other  part  of 
the  State.  Also,  the  Hon.  Thos.  S.  Ashe  is  one  of  the  lineal 
descendants  of  this  old  stock.  There  was  one  of  the  gTand- 
daughters,  Miss  Sallie  Moore,  who  was  reputed  to  be  the 
greatest  beauty  of  her  day.  Her  father,  William  Moore,  re- 
moved to  the  State  of  Tennessee,  where  she  was  heard  of  still 
living  a  few  years  since. 

George  Moore  of  Moore  Fields,  as  he  was  familiarly  called, 
was  remarkable  for  his  gTeat  energy  and  good  management ;  a 
man  of  considerable  wealth,  owning  many  slaves.  He  had 
a  summer  residence  on  the  Sound,  to  reach  which  he  crossed 
the  ISTortheast  River  at  the  Vats  ferry;  and  from  a  mile 
or  two  to  the  east  of  it,  he  had  made  a  perfectly  straight  road, 
ditched  on  each  side,  twenty  miles  in  length.  This  road, 
though  no  longer  used,  can  still  be  traced.  It  is  related  that 
when  corn  was  wanted  at  the  summer  place,  one  hundred 
negro  fellows  would  be  started,  each  with  a  bushel  bag  on  his 
head.  There  is  quite  a  deep  ditch  leading  from  some  large 
bay  swamps  lying  to  the  west  of  the  county  road.  It  used  to 
be  called  the  Devil's  ditch,  and  there  was  some  mystery  and 
idle  tradition  as  to  why  and  how  the  ditch  was  cut  there.  It 
was  doubtless  made  to  drain  the  water  from  those  bays,  to 
flood  some  lands  cultivated  in  rice,  which  were  too  low  to  be 
drained  for  corn. 

We  will  now  pass  down  the  old  Swann  Point  Avenue  to  the 
county  road,  and  traveling  west,  soon  reach  and  cross  Turkey 
Creek,  and  come  to  that  famous  old  plantation.  Spring 
Garden,  the  residence  of  old  Frederick  Jones,  Esq.,  noted  in 
his  day  as  being  the  most  industrious  and  successful  farmer 
in  all  the  country  round.     Mr.  Jones  was  a  Virginian,  in- 


118  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

duced  to  settle  on  the  Cape  Fear  by  Mr.  Swann,  whose  niece 
he  had  married.  Besides  the  son,  who  assumed  the  name  of 
Swann,  there  were  five  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Mr. 
John  Hill,  of  Fair  Fields.  She  was  the  mother  of  the  late 
Dr.  Frederick  J.  and  John  Hill.  Another  married  Michael 
Sampson,  Esq.,  of  Sampson  Hall.  The  remaining  three 
daughters  married  three  brothers,  Scotch  gentlemen,  by  the 
name  of  Cutlar.  Only  one  of  these  left  children.  Dr.  Eoger 
Cutlar,  who  was  the  father  of  the  late  Dr.  Frederick  J.  Cutlar, 
of  Wilmington,  eminent  in  his  profession,  and  for  his  purity 
of  character.  From  this  good  old  Spring  Garden  stock,  also 
comes  the  writer's  best  esteemed  and  most  worthy  friend, 
DuBrutz  Cutlar,  Esq.^ 

We  will  now  retrace  our  steps  across  Turkey  Creek,  and 
pass  over  the  river  at  the  Oaks,  and  going  through  what  waa 
called  Legere's  I^eck,  we  come  to  the  Castle  Haynes.  Legere's, 
a  deep  neck  formed  by  the  river  on  one  side  and  Prince 
George's  Creek  on  the  other,  was  like  Belahonea,  another 
great  resort  for  deer  and  a  famous  hunting  ground.  Castle 
Haynes  was  the  residence  of  a  Mr.  Haynes,  of  whose  history 
the  writer  has  heard  but  little,  except  that  he  was  the  ancestor 
of  the  Waddell  family,  among  whom  I  have  heard  related  the 
tradition  of  his  sad  death  by  drowning.  It  is  said  that  he 
was  ill  of  a  fever,  and  while  in  delirium,  he  rose  from  his 
bed  and  rushed  to  the  creek,  which  was  near  by,  plunged  in, 
and  was  drowned,  before  assistance  could  reach  him. 

This  Mr.  Haynes  left  an  only  daughter,  who  married  Col. 
Hugh  Waddell.  From  that  union  sprang  the  family  of  that 
name,  so  long  and  respectably  known  on  the  Cape  Fear. 

Turning  east  from  Castle  Haynes  and  crossing  the  county 

iBesides  the  plantations  mentioned  in  this  paper,  near  the  lower 
Ferry  were  Mulberry  and  the  Oaks,  the  latter  being  the  residence 
of  Mr.  Swann.  Mulberry  was  the  headquarters  of  General  Lillington 
while  hemming  in  the  British  forces  that  occupied  Wilmington. 
And  where  the  railroad  crosses  the  county  road,  one  mile  south  of 
Rocky  Point  station,  was  Hyrneham,  built  by  Colonel  Hyrne,  and 
famous  in  the  early  days  of  the  settlement.  Later  it  was  the  birth- 
place of  Doctor  Hill. 


EARLY  YEARS  119 

road,  we  come  to  the  Hermitage,  the  residence  of  the  Bur- 
gwyn  family.  The  founder  of  this  family  was  Mr.  John 
Burgwyn,  an  English  gentleman,  in  olden  times  an  opulent 
merchant,  who  carried  on  an  extensive  commerce  between 
Wilmington  and  Bristol  in  England.  He  must  have  had 
fine  taste,  as  displayed  by  the  manner  in  which  the  grounds 
around  the  Hermitage  were  laid  off  and  improved.  Its  fine 
avenues  and  handsomely  arranged  pleasure  grounds  surpassed 
everything  in  the  whole  country  round.  Mr.  George  Bur- 
gwyn, who  occupied  the  Hermitage  after  his  father's  death, 
was  also  a  gentleman  of  good  taste,  and  devoted  much  atten- 
tion to  the  decoration  of  the  place,  and  kept  it  up  in  handsome 
condition. 

Mr.  George  Burgwyn  reared  a  numerous  and  highly  re- 
spectable family.  His  oldest  son,  Capt.  John  Burgwyn,  of 
the  United  States  Army,  was  killed  in  battle  in  the  Mexican 
War,  and  his  grandson,  Gen.  George  B.  Anderson,  died 
of  a  wound  received  at  the  battle  of  Antietam. 

We  will  turn  now  westward,  and  crossing  the  county  road 
at  a  short  distance,  come  to  Bocky  Bun,  where  lived  Dr. 
^Nathaniel  Hill.  In  earlier  times  this  place  was  the  residence 
of  Mr.  Maurice  Jones,  whose  daughter  Doctor  Hill  married. 
Of  the  history  of  this  gentleman,  Mr.  Jones,  the  writer  never 
heard  much.  But  a  tradition  worth  relating  will  illustrate 
his  firmness  and  remarkable  seK-possession  and  presence  of 
mind.  He  was  a  great  woodsman,  and  in  the  habit  of  still- 
hunting.  On  one  occasion  he  was  creeping  to  shoot  a  deer, 
which  was  feeding  at  a  dogwood  tree.  When,  feeling  that 
something  was  dragging  at  one  of  his  legs,  he  turned  his  head 
and  saw  that  it  was  a  large  rattlesnake,  which  had  struck 
and  fastened  his  fangs  in  the  buckskin  leggings  that  all 
huntsmen  wore  at  that  day,  he  deliberately  crawled  on, 
dragging  the  snake  as  he  went.  Getting  within  proper  range, 
he  fired  and  killed  the  deer,  then  turning,  killed  the  snake. 

Dr.  ISTathaniel  Hill  was  sent  to  Scotland  when  he  was  quite 
young,  where  he  was  placed  with  an  apothecary.  Having 
completed  a  full  term  at  this  business,  he  entered  the  medical 


120  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

college  at  Edinburgb,  where  he  remained  until  he  had  com- 
pleted his  medical  course.  Returning  home  before  he  was 
quite  of  age,  he  entered  actively  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Wilmington.  Full  of  energy  and  earnestness,  with 
remarkable  sagacity  and  decision,  he  very  soon  acquired  the 
confidence  of  the  community.  His  reputation  was  established 
and  not  surpassed  in  the  whole  Cape  Fear  region. 

After  a  laborious  and  lucrative  practice  of  twenty-five 
years,  Doctor  Hill  retired  with  an  independent  estate  to  Eocky 
Run  where  he  had  built  a  comfortable  and  commodious  house. 
Here,  before  the  prime  of  his  life  was  over,  and  in  the  full 
vigor  of  manhood,  he  took  up  his  abode,  and  for  many  years 
dispensed  a  liberal  hospitality  to  a  large  circle  of  friends  and 
relatives. 

On  the  first  day  of  January  of  each  year,  that  being  Doctor 
Hill's  birthday,  a  numerous  party  of  friends  and  relatives  al- 
ways assembled  at  Rocky  Run,  to  celebrate  the  event  with 
feasting  and  good  cheer.  Then  it  was  that  those  fine  deer 
hunts  came  off,  which  were  so  skillfully  conducted  that  they 
were  invariably  successful.  The  standers  were  judiciously 
placed,  and  the  bringing  down  of  the  game  depended  on  their 
skill  as  marksmen.  In  the  management  of  these  hunts,  the 
guests,  whether  old  or  young,  were  invariably  placed  at  the 
best  stands,  the  Doctor  taking  the  chances  as  they  might  arrive 
for  himself.  He  always  carried  a  long  flint-and-steel  single- 
barrel  silver-mounted  gun,  and  it  was  not  often  that  he  failed 
to  bring  down  the  deer  coming  fairly  by  him  within  one  hun- 
dred yards.  Many  a  day  of  sport  has  the  writer  enjoyed 
with  this  noble  old  gentleman  at  his  fine  old  seat.  Most  sys- 
tematic and  punctual  in  his  habits,  invariably  as  we  rose  from 
the  breakfast  table  (8  o'clock  in  winter)  the  driver  was  wait- 
ing with  horses  and  dogs,  eager  for  the  drive,  and  as  punc- 
tually we  returned  by  2  o'clock,  the  dinner  hour,  as  the  family 
were  never  kept  waiting. 

The  old  Rocky  Run  mansion  was  destroyed  by  fire  many 
years  since,  and  the  place  has  shared  the  fate  of  all  others  on 
the  Northeast,  and  fallen  into  stranger  hands. 


EARLY  YEARS  121 

The  next  two  places  below  on  the  river  were  Eose  Hill,  the 
residence  of  the  Quince  family,  and  Rock  Hill,  of  the  Davises, 
two  rather  inconsiderable  and  inferior  rice  plantations.  The 
Quinces  were  among  the  earliest  of  the  gentry  settlers  on  the 
Cape  Fear.  I  have  heard  an  old  story  related  about  a  Mr. 
Parker  Quince,  somewhat  characteristic,  I  presume,  of  him- 
self and  his  times.  It  seems  that  he  was  a  merchant  and  quite 
a  trafficker.  In  sending  an  order  for  goods  on  one  occasion  to 
London  (from  whence  most  all  importations  were  made)  a 
dozen  cheeses  were  included  and  several  gross  of  black  tacks. 
Instead  of  the  cheeses,  they  sent  a  dozen  English  chaises,  and 
for  the  tacks  there  were  sent  an  immense  number  of  black 
jacks,  as  they  were  called,  a  kind  of  japanned  tin  drinking 
mug;  his  correspondent  apologizing  for  not  completing  the 
order  as  to  the  cups,  as  he  had  bought  up  all  that  could  be 
found  in  the  shops  of  London.  Mr.  Quince  either  spelled 
badly,  or  wrote  illegibly,  probably  a  little  of  both. 

There  was  one  of  the  Quinces,  who  for  some  family  reason 
or  other,  adopted  the  name  of  Hasell — ^WiUiam  Surrenza 
Hasell.  He  was  much  esteemed  and  the  intimate  friend  of 
many  of  the  gentlemen  of  his  day.  When  party  politics  ran 
high  between  the  old  Federalists  and  Eepublicans  he  edited 
a  paper  called  the  Minerva,  advocating  the  principles  of  the 
Federal  party,  and  was  well  sustained  and  caressed  by  his 
friends.  He  must  have  been  a  man  of  fine  literary  taste, 
judging  from  the  number  of  old  volumes  of  the  best  English 
literature,  with  his  name  and  coat  of  arms  inscribed  on  them, 
which  I  have  come  across  in  the  old  libraries. 

Rock  Hill  was  handsomely  located  on  a  bluff  commanding 
a  fine  view  of  the  river.  It  was  in  old  times  the  residence 
of  Mr.  Jehu  Davis,  and  more  lately  of  Mr.  Thos.  J.  Davis, 
his  son.  The  name  of  Davis,  both  in  early  and  later  times  on 
the  Cape  Fear,  has  always  been  associated  with  all  that  was 
highly  respectable  and  honorable,  and  it  has  been  most  emi- 
nently sustained  in  the  person  of  Hon.  George  Davis  of  Wil- 
mington, and  the  late  Bishop  Davis  of  South  Carolina. 

Proceeding  further  down,  but  not  immediately  on  the  river, 


122  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

was  once  a  j)lace  known  as  Nesces  Creek,  on  a  creek  of  that 
name,  which  before  the  Revolution  was  the  residence  of 
Arthur  Mabson,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  noted  for  his  great  energy 
and  industry,  by  which  he  had  accumulated  a  considerable 
estate,  but  he  died  the  first  year  of  the  war  at  the  early  age  of 
forty.  This  place  was  long  ago  abandoned,  and  I  do  not  sup- 
pose there  is  a  vestige  of  its  improvements  left 

Crossing  N'esces  Creek  and  going  a  mile  or  so  further  on, 
we  come  to  where  once  stood  Fair  Fields,  also  gone  totally 
to  ruin.  Here  lived  Mr.  John  Hill,  a  gentleman  of  note  in  his 
day,  frequently  representing  the  county  in  the  Legislature. 
He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  entered  the  Army 
while  quite  young,  and  served  with  General  Greene  in  his 
southern  campaigns. 

Passing  on,  we  come  to  Sans  Souci.  Of  the  early  history 
of  this  place  the  writer  knows  nothing.  For  many  years  past 
it  has  been  the  residence  of  the  late  Mr.  Arthur  J.  Hill. 

Crossing  Smith's  Creek  we  come  to  Hilton,  the  place 
named  for  the  first  adventurer  who  explored  the  river, 
Captain  Hilton.^  This  was  the  residence  of  Cornelius  Har- 
nett, Esq.,  and  the  old  mansion  erected  by  him,  still  standing, 
is  the  only  one  left  of  all  the  old  places  on  the  river.  It  is  not 
surprising  that  this  point  should  have  attracted  the  admira- 
tion of  those  who  first  beheld  it  and  gave  it  its  name.  A  fine 
bluff,  near  the  junction  of  Smith's  Creek  with  the  river,  it  has 
a  commanding  and  extensive  view  up  and  down  the  stream. 
Although  much  out  of  repair  and  the  grounds  mutilated  by 
the  deep  cut  of  a  railroad  passing  through  them,  it  is  still  the 
most  attractive  spot  near  the  city  of  Wilmington. 

Cornelius  Harnett  was  about  the  most  noted  and  conspicu- 
ous personage  of  his  day  in  the  whole  Cape  Fear  region. 
'No  man  more  entirely  commanded  the  confidence  and  ad- 
miration of  the  community  in  which  he  lived.  ISTotwithstand- 
ing  that  Hilton  was  not  within  the  corporate  limits  of  the 
tovm  of  Wilmington,  yet  in  such  high  estimation  was  Mr. 
Harnett  held,  that  by  a  special  ordinance  he  was  invested 

iThis  seems  to  be  an  error. 


EARLY  YEARS  123 

with  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  a  resident,  and  entitled 
to  vote  in  their  municipal  and  borough  elections. 

Either  on  account  of  feeble  health,  or  advanced  life,  Mr. 
Harnett  was  not  an  active  participant  as  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  the  Eevolution;  both  heart  and  means  were  nevertheless 
enlisted  in  the  cause,  and  after  Wilming-ton  was  occupied 
bj  the  British,  he  was  wrested  from  a  sick  bed  and  confined 
in  their  prison,  where  he  died  in  consequence  of  their  harsh 
and  brutal  treatment. 

Mr.  Harnett,  I  believe,  left  no  descendants,  and  in  after 
times  Hilton  became  the  property  and  the  residence  of  Wm. 
H.  Hill,  Esq.  This  gentleman  was  said  to  have  pos- 
sessed fine  qualities  of  both  head  and  heart.  Genial  of  tem- 
per and  fond  of  conviviality,  he  attracted  many  friends 
around  him,  and  was  always  the  life  of  his  company.  He  was 
a  leading  spirit  among  the  gentlemen  of  the  Federal  party, 
when  politics  ran  high,  and  represented  the  Wilmington  dis- 
trict in  Congress  during  the  administration  of  the  elder 
Adams. 

OLD  ST.  JAMES'. 

(Wilmington  newspaper  of  1839.) 

Begun  1751.     Finished  1770.     Demolished  1839. 

The  last  services  in  St.  James'  Church  were  of  course  at- 
tended vdth  more  than  ordinary  interest,  and  fancy  could 
fashion  sentiments  something  like  the  following,  as  passing 
through  the  minds  of  the  congregation : 

Time-honored  fane  which  oft  our  childhood  sought 
On  welcome  Sabbath  hours,  and  hither  brought 
Our  young  affections'  offering — happy  days — 
That  viewed  the  future  tinged  with  golden  rays. 

And  as  our  years  advanced  with  stealthy  pace. 
With  loins  full  girded,  entered  on  Life's  race, 
Here  did  we  turn  for  lines  of  heavenly  truth, 
Her  wisdom  teaching  rules,  fit  guides  of  youth. 

When  cares  and  troubles  gloomed  the  path  of  life, 
Here  sought  we  still  fresh  vigor  for  the  strife; 
Religion's  blessed  precepts  here  were  heard. 
And  lips  devout  dispensed  the  inspiring  word. 


124  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Our  fathers,  too,  this  holy  temple  trod, 

With  grateful  hearts  they  came  to  worship  God, 

In  contrite  spirit,  humbly,  lowly  knelt. 

And  cheerful  faith,  with  true  devotion  felt. 

Here  have  we  gathered  'round  the  mournful  bier, 
Whilst  breaking  hearts  scarce  shed  one  burning  tear, 
Here  have  we  heard  the  last,  long  lingering  knell 
Of  "earth  to  earth"  and  "dust  to  dust"  to  dwell. 

Thrice  honoured  fane!  and  must  thou  fall  at  last? 
May  not  thy  merits  plead — thy  history  past — ? 
Will  not  fond  love  avert  the  fearful  doom? 
Sounds  there  no  warning  voice  from  yonder  tomb? 

Farewell,  old  Church!  we  bid  thee,  then,  farewell! 
Yet  do  the  parting  words  with  sorrow  swell 
Our  hearts  and  eyes;  and  e'en  we  linger  still — 
The  cord  that  binds  us  here  cannot  be  broke  at  will. 

"A." 

The  ceremony  of  laying  the  corner  stone  of  the  new 
Church  of  St.  James  was  performed  on  Wednesday,  the  3d 
of  April,  1839.  The  Eev.  K.  B.  Drane,  Eector  of  the  Parish, 
ojfficiated  in  the  absence  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese.  At 
10  o'clock  the  Congregation,  and  a  large  concourse  of  others, 
assembled  at  the  Lecture  Room  (the  present  place  of  wor- 
ship), thence  moved  in  procession  to  the  site  of  the  new 
edifice  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Market  and  Third  Streets. 
The  service  set  forth  for  such  occasions  was  there  gone 
through  with,  and  the  stone  adjusted  to  its  proper  place.  In 
the  cavity  of  the  stone,  was  placed  the  scroll,  copied  below,  to- 
gether with  the  articles  named  upon  it.  The  Rector  then 
pronounced  a  very  appropriate  and  impressive  address. 

The  day  was  bright  and  lovely,  beaming  auspiciously 
upon  the  scene,  inspiring  a  cheering  hope  of  a  happy  termi- 
nation to  the  undertaking  so  happily  begun. 

Peo  Deo,  Pro  Ecclesia,  Pbo  Hominum  Salute. 

In  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost — ^Amen. 

This  corner  of  St.  James'  Church  is  laid  this  third  day  of  April, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  (1839). 


EARLY  YEARS  125 

The  Right  Rev.  Levi  Silliman  Ives,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  being  the  Bishop 
of  the  Diocese  of  North  Carolina. 

The  Rev.  Robert  Brent  Drane,  being  the  Rector  of  St.  James 
Church  and  officiating  on  the  occasion. 

Db.  a.  J.  DeRosset, 

W.   C.   LOED, 

Wardens. 
Thos.  H.  Wright, 
A.  J.  DeRosset,  Je., 
Wm.  B.  Giles, 

WM.    a.    WTT.T.TATVra, 

Jas.  T.  Miller, 

Vestry. 

The  design  of  this  building  was  by  T.  TJ.  Walter,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  was  executed  under  the  direction  of  John 
S.  Morris  of  ^ew  York,  by  John  C.  Wood,  as  principal 
mason,  and  C.  H.  Dall  as  carpenter. 

"Other  foundation  can  no  man  lay  than  that  which  is  laid 
—even  Jesus  Christ."  "May  the  gates  of  Hell  never  prevail 
against  it." 

The  original  Parish  Church  of  St.  James  stood  about 
fifty  yards  from  this  spot,  near  the  comer  of  the  graveyard. 
It  was  commenced  in  the  year  1Y51,  but  not  completed  until 
17T0.  In  consequence  of  its  location  (partly  in  the  street), 
its  decayed  condition,  and  the  incommodiousness  of  its  inter- 
nal arrangement,  it  was  taken  down  in  1839,  and  a  portion 
of  its  materials  used  in  the  execution  of  this  building.  The  lot 
upon  which  the  present  church  is  erected,  was  purchased 
from  Dr.  A.  J.  DeRosset,  Sen'r.,  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
dollars,  of  which  sum  the  Ladies'  Working  Society  and  the 
Juvenile  Working  Society  have  agreed  to  pay  six  hundred 
dollars. 


126  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

FIRST  CAPE  FEAE  IMPROVEMENTS. 

I  find  in  the  ann^^al  report  of  Wm.  P.  Craighill,  then 
Major  of  Engineers  and  Brevet  Lieut.  Colonel,  U.  S.  A.,  for 
the  year  1873,  a  brief  history  of  old  surveys  and  maps  and 
charts  made  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  between  its  mouth  and 
the  port  of  Wilming-ton,  which  is  a  record  of  some  value  to 
us.  I  have  also  found  in  the  records  of  the  War  Department 
of  1828,  a  lengthy  report  by  Capt.  Hartman  Bache,  of  the 
Engineers,  transmitted  by  Maj.  Gen.  Alexander  MacComb, 
Chief  Engineer,  to  Hon.  James  Barbour,  Secretary  of  War, 
who  in  turn  transmitted  it  to  Congress,  which  had  called  for 
it  by  resolution  dated  the  20th  of  December,  1827.  This  re- 
port is  not  only  interesting  but  valuable,  as  it  indicates  the 
initial  measures  recommended  and  subsequently  carried  out 
by  the  Federal  Government  for  the  removal  of  obstructions  to 
navigation  between  the  bar  and  the  port  of  Wilmington,  the 
navigation  of  the  river  being  greatly  hampered  by  shoal  water, 
which  afforded,  under  the  most  favorable  conditions,  a 
channel  of  less  than  nine  feet. 

It  also  appears  from  this  report  and  from  other  data,  that 
the  State  work  under  Mr.  Hamilton  Fulton,  State  Engineer 
in  1823,  was  unsuccessful  and  was  condemned  in  its  most 
important  features  by  Captain  Bache  and  by  those  who  were 
directly  interested  in  the  commerce  of  the  Cape  Fear  River. 

About  the  year  1819  the  State  authorized  Mr.  Peter 
Brown,  an  eminent  lawyer  residing  at  Raleigh,  then  intend- 
ing to  visit  Great  Britain,  to  employ  an  engineer  for  the  pur- 
pose of  improving  our  rivers  and  water  transportation;  and 
Mr.  Brov^m  engaged  Hamilton  Fulton,  at  a  salary  of  $5,000. 

The  work  of  putting  in  the  jetties  below  Wilmington  seems 
to  have  been  under  Mr.  Fulton's  direction ;  but  it  is  said  that 
the  engineer  in  charge  was  Mr.  Hinton  James,  who  had  been 
the  first  student  to  enter  the  State  University.  Afterwards 
Mr.  James,  it  is  said,  was  mayor  of  Wilmington;  and  he 
lived  to  a  green  old  age  in  the  town. ,  Mr.  Hamilton's  work 
may  have  been  founded  on  correct  principles,  but  his  plans, 


EARLY  YEARS  127 

not  only  for  the  Cape  Fear  River,  "but  for  other  improve- 
ments, were  beyond  tlie  financial  resources  of  the  State,  and 
after  some  years  they  were  abandoned. 

After  the  hiatus,  from  1839  to  1847,  the  work  went  on 
steadily  by  the  General  Government,  and  it  is  notable  that  in 
1853  some  of  the  citizens  of  Wilmington,  enterprising  men 
that  they  were,  subscribed  $60,000  (a  large  sum  in  those 
days  for  a  small  community)  in  furtherance  of  the  continued 
improvement  of  the  river  and  bar  under  the  direction  of  an 
officer  of  the  U.  S.  Corps  of  Engineers.  This  was  officially 
approved  June  9,  1853,  by  Jefferson  Davis,  Secretary  of 
War. 

The  following  table  illustrates  the  business  of  Wilmington 
from  December  1,  1851,  to  December  1,  1852, — one  year: 

Coastwise  Exports  feom  Wilmington,  from  December  1,  1851,  to 
December  1,  1852 — One  Year: 

Sawed  timber,  17,135,889  feet   $272,585.77 

Pitch-pine  timber,  1,025,202  feet   12,815.01 

Spirits  turpentine,  96,277  bbls 1,707,999.75 

Rosin,  320,219  bbls 560,383.26 

Tar,   17,522  bbls 35,044.00 

Pitch,  6,660  bbls 9,157.00 

Turpentine,  raw,  63,071  bbls 220,748.50 

Cotton,  12,988  bales 454,580.00 

Rice,  clean,  2,300  casks 37,375.00 

Rice,  rough,  64,842  bushels 58,357.80 

Peanuts,  93,255  bushels  93,255.00 

Corn,  Indian,  5,663  bushels 3,009.64 

Staves,  27,000    105.00 

Cotton  yarn,  2,434  bales   97,360.00 

Sheetings,  1,702  bales 102,120.00 

Flax  seed,  165  casks  ) 

Do.         1.253bags |  6'<^52.25 

Sundries   320,613.86 

Coastwise  total  $3,991,561.83 

Foreign  exports  549,107.74 

Total  coastwise  and  foreign $4,540,669.57 

A  Few  of  the  Principal  Foreign  Exports  are  Subjoined: 

Lumber,  feet  15,201.000 

Timber,  feet  2,383,814 

Turpentine,  barrels  33,596 


128  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

The  following  remarkable  official  statements  were  made  by 
the  U.  S.  Engineers  in  1853 : 

"The  Cape  Fear  Eiver  is  the  natural  and  actual  outlet  of 
the  products  of  28  or  more  counties  in  North  Carolina  and  of 
several  counties  in  South  Carolina.  In  one  item  of  future 
exports  other  Southern  States  are  interested  and  the  whole 
country  must  be  so  in  time  of  war.  Coal  in  large  quan- 
tities and  of  an  excellent  quality  has  been  found  upon 
the  waters  of  the  Cape  Fear,  about  120  miles  from  its  mouth, 
and  at  no  distant  day,  it  is  supposed,  will  become  a  regular 
article  of  export.  We  may,  therefore,  have — what  must  be 
regarded  as  a  national  benefit  at  all  times,  and  in  time  of  war 
as  of  very  gTeat  importance — a  depot  of  coal  upon  the  Cape 
Fear,  independent  of  supply  from  the  K'orth,  and  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  enemy.  But  this  depot  will,  in  great  measure, 
be  lost  to  the  country  unless  the  Cape  Fear  shall  be  improved 
so  as  to  admit  our  ships  of  war." 

Steamboat  Line  to  Charleston. 

The  progress  of  the  River  Improvement  by  the  Federal 
Government  during  a  period  of  ten  years,  from  1829  to  1839, 
was  very  slow  and  it  resulted  in  a  gain  of  only  two  feet  depth 
below  Wilmington,  but  after  eight  years  more,  in  1847,  it 
was  pushed  forward  with  gTeater  diligence  and  success  from 
Wilmington  to  the  sea,  resulting  in  a  safer  channel  of 
thirteen  feet  at  high  water  and  nine  feet  at  low  water.  Mean- 
time, there  was  much  enterprise  shown  by  the  merchants  of 
Wilmington  in  shipbuilding,  in  a  large  and  increasing  tur- 
pentine and  lumber  trade,  in  the  establishment  of  packet 
lines  to  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  Xew  York,  and  in  a 
daily  mail  steamboat  line  to  Charleston,  consisting  of  the 
steamers  Yanderbilt,  North  Carolina,  Gladiator  and  Dudley. 

Congressional  Aid  to  River  Improvement. 

It  was  not  until  1826  that  Congress  began  to  make  appro- 
priations for  river  and  harbor  improvements,  and  three  years 
later  the  Cape  Fear  River  was  included  in  the  list.     For 


EARLY  YEARS  129 

ten  years  an  annual  appropriation  of  $20,000  was  regularly 
made,  and  then  because  of  a  change  in  public  policy  such  ap- 
propriations ceased.  The  Democratic  party  was  opposed  to 
internal  improvements  at  the  expense  of  the  government. 
From  1838  to  1866  only  a  few  river  and  harbor  bills  were 
passed.  Mr.  William  S.  Ashe,  the  representative  from  the 
Cape  Fear  District  in  1854,  differed  with  his  party  on  the 
subject  of  internal  improvements  and  succeeded  in  getting 
through  a  bill  carrying  $140,000  for  the  Cape  Fear  River, 
the  particular  object  being  to  close  jSTew  Inlet,  forcing  all  the 
water  of  the  stream  over  the  main  bar.  In  order  to  accom- 
plish his  purpose  he  had  to  persuade  many  of  his  Democratic 
associates  to  withdraw  from  the  chamber,  and  so  many  with- 
drew that,  although  his  bill  received  a  large  aiBrmative  vote, 
there  was  no  quorum,  and  he  had  to  call  in  others  to  make  a 
quorum.  On  the  final  vote  the  bill  passed,  but  there  were  still 
more  than  eighty  Democrats  absent.  That  was  the  begin- 
ning of  the  effort  to  close  I^ew  Inlet,  which  was  nearly  ac- 
complished when  the  war  stopped  operations,  but  when  block- 
ade running  began,  every  one  rejoiced  that  the  inlet  was  still 
open. 

In  after  years  Senator  Ransom  exerted  himself  with  suc- 
cess for  the  improvement  of  the  river,  but  the  great  improve- 
ment has  been  accomplished  under  the  influence  of  Senator 
Simmons,  who  is  at  present  the  Acting  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Commerce,  having  such  matters  in  charge. 
He  has  secured  a  26-foot  channel,  increasing  immensely 
the  commercial  facilities  of  Wilmington,  which  her  business 
men  have  quickly  developed.  Mr,  Simmons  has  likewise 
secured  the  adoption  of  a  project  to  canalize  the  river  from 
Wilmington  to  Fayetteville,  and  has  been  a  strenuous  advo- 
cate of  the  Coastal  Canal,  now  about  to  be  constructed. 

Mr.  Simmons  has  long  appreciated  the  value  of  Inland 
Waterways  and  was  a  member  of  the  Commission  on  Water- 
ways sent  to  Europe  by  Congress  a  few  years  ago.  In  1909 
he  was  a  prime  f  acto.r  in  securing  the  adoption  of  the  propo- 
sition to  have  a  survey  made  for  an  intercoastal  waterjvay 


130  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

from  Boston  to  the  Eio  Grande.  In  1912  he  secured  the 
adoption  of  the  ISTorfolk  and  Beaufort  section  of  that  great 
undertaking  and  the  purchase  bj  the  Government  of  the  Albe- 
marle and  Chesapeake  Canal.  He  also  secured  the  deepen- 
ing of  that  waterway  to  twelve  feet. 

The  River  and  Harbor  bill  now  pending  carries  a  provision 
for  a  survey  to  increase  the  depth  of  water  from  Wilmington 
to  thirty-five  feet. 


EAILROADS— THE  FIRST  PROJECT. 

In  March,  1833,  the  Commissioners  of  the  City  of  Fay- 
etteville  were  instructed  to  negotiate  a  loan  of  $200,000  to 
be  invested  in  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  Railroad, 
which,  with  individual  subscriptions,  would  be  more  than 
enough  for  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  work  could 
be  begun  in  the  spring  of  1834. 

On  May  1,  1833,  the  Peoples  Press  advertised  that  the 
subscribers  to  the  stock  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley 
Railroad  would  be  refunded  the  amount  of  money  paid  by 
them  on  their  shares,  after  deducting  12%  for  disbursements, 
by  applying  to  Dr.  Wm.  P.  Hort.  It  was  further  stated 
that  the  project  was  abandoned  because  of  lack  of  support  by 
the  iuliabitants  of  the  western  section,  who  would  not  contrib- 
ute one  cent  to  the  enterprise  of  establishing  a  railroad  from 
the  seaboard  to  the  mountains. 

The  Fiest  Declaeation  of  State  Policy. 

On  July  4,  1833,  the  Internal  Improvement  Convention 
assembled  in  Raleigh  with  one  hundred  and  twenty  dele- 
gates, representing  twenty-one  counties  in  the  eastern  and 
northern  sections.  It  seems  to  have  been  the  first  concerted 
effort  towards  organized  action  looking  to  the  establishment 
of  a  railroad.  Governor  Swain  presided  and  Gen.  Samuel 
F.  Patterson  and  Mr.  Charles  Manly  were  appointed  secre- 
taries.    The  personnel  of  the  convention  must  have  been 


EARLY  YEARS  131 

remarkable,  as  the  record  says,  "So  many  distinguished  and 
talented  men  are  said  never  before  to  have  assembled  in  the 
State." 

In  this  convention  Governor  Graham,  then  in  the  prime  of 
his  rare  pov^ers,  urged  as  the  internal  improvement  policy  of 
the  State,  three  north  and  south  lines  of  railroads.  He  was 
antagonized  by  Joseph  Alston  Hill,  of  Wilmington,  one  of 
the  most  gifted  orators  of  that  period,  who  advocated  east 
and  west  lines,  marketing  the  products  of  the  State  through 
North  Carolina  ports.  It  was  a  battle  of  giants,  and  Hill 
won  the  victory. 

The  convention  adopted  resolutions  to  the  effect  that  the 
General  Assembly  ought  to  raise  by  loan  such  sums  as  will 
"afford  substantial  assistance  in  the  prosecution  of  the  public 
works ;  that  no  work  should  be  encouraged  for  conveying 
produce  to  a  primary  market  out  of  the  State;  that  the  Legis- 
lature be  asked  to  take  two-fifths  of  the  stock  of  companies; 
that  a  Corresponding  Committee  of  twenty  be  appointed  in 
each  county,  and  that  a  second  convention  be  held  on  the 
fourth  Monday  in  November." 

The  delegates  from  Wake,  Johnston,  Lenoir,  Wayne,  Samp- 
son, Craven,  and  New  Hanover  resolved  that  "means  be  de- 
vised for  carrying  into  effect  the  scheme  of  a  railroad  from 
Ealeigh  to  Waynesborough  (Goldsboro),  and  thence  to  Wil- 
mington." 

The  committee  for  the  town  of  Wilmington  was  composed 
of  Edward  B.  Dudley,  William  B.  Meares,  William  P. 
Hort,  Joseph  A.  Hill,  and  Alexander  MacEae.  Circulars 
were  issued  to  the  citizens  of  Wake,  Johnston,  Wayne,  Samp- 
son, Duplin,  New  Hanover,  and  Brunswick  to  ascertain 
what  amount  of  aid  they  would  contribute,  and  stating  that 
$113,000  had  been  subscribed  by  the  citizens  of  Wilmington, 
and  that  a  total  of  $150,000  would  be  raised. 

In  July,  1833,  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  formulated  a 
proposition  to  make  application  to  the  Legislature  to  incor- 
porate the  town  of  Wilmington,  the  object  being  to  raise 

10 


132  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

funds  on  which  immediate  action  could  be  taken  in  the  con- 
struction of  railroads;  but  in  January,  1834,  the  bill  'To  in- 
corporate the  Citv  of  Wilmington  and  extend  the  limits 
thereof"  was  rejected. 

The  Origin  of  the  Eailroad  Project. 

Communication  from  Wilmington  to  the  North  was  by 
means  of  an  occasional  j)acket  ship  and  the  two  lines  of 
stages,  one  by  way  of  New  Bern  and  the  other  through  Fay- 
etteville  and  Raleigh. 

The  commerce  of  the  town  had  but  slowly  increased  and 
the  future  prospect  was  gloomy.  A  railroad  or  two,  very 
short  lines,  had  been  constructed  elsewhere,  and  this  new 
method  of  travel  was  being  talked  about;  but  as  yet  it  had 
not  been  proven  a  success.^  Such  was  the  situation  when 
Mr.  P.  K.  Dickinson,  a  young  Northern  man  who  had 
located  in  the  tovm,  went  one  summer  to  New  England  and 
saw  there  a  little  railroad  in  operation.  It  had  only  wooden 
stringers,  with  narrow,  thin,  flat  iron  on  top,  and  the  car- 
riages were  of  light  construction.  Mr.  Dickinson  was  greatly 
impressed  with  its  capabilities.  Convinced  of  its  success  he 
became  enthusiastic,  and  hurried  back  to  Wilmington  with 
the  news  that  he  had  found  what  was  needed  to  assure  the 
future  welfare  of  the  town — the  railroad.  He  was  so  en- 
thusiastic, so  insistent  and  persistent,  that  his  idea  took 
shape,  and  the  people  determined  to  have  a  railroad.  With 
Wilmington  to  resolve  is  to  act,  and  the  Wilmington  and 
Raleigh  Road  was  chartered;  but  Raleigh  would  not  sub- 
scribe, while  the  Edgecombe  people  would,  so,  although  the 
line  from  Wilmington  to  Goshen  pointed  to  Raleigh,  the  con- 
struction was  northward  to  Weldon.  Mr.  Dickinson  was 
one  of  the  chief  promoters  and  remained  through  life  the 
leading  director.  He  was  one  of  the  most  useful,  most 
esteemed  and  valued  citizens  of  the  tovm,  and  his  large  lum- 
ber plant,  located  north  of  the  railroad  terminal,  was  one  of 
the  great  industries  of  Wilmington. 

iThe  first  American  built  locomotive  was  put  on  the  South  Caro- 
lina Railroad,  November  2,  1830.  The  first  roads  were  operated  by 
horse  power. 


EARLY  YEARS  133 

THE  WILMINGTON  AND  WELDON  EAILROAD. 

In  January,  1834,  the  bill  to  incorporate  the  Wilmington 
and  Raleigh  Railroad  became  a  law,  but  the  terms  of  the 
charter  were  so  restricted  that  an  amended  charter  was  ob- 
tained in  December,  1835,  conferring  larger  privileges  and 
changing  the  course  of  the  proposed  road.  At  the  time  of 
granting  the  first  charter  it  was  the  intention  to  construct  a 
railroad  merely  to  connect  the  principal  seaport  with  the 
"seat  of  the  government,"  but  as  the  project  was  more 
thoroughly  considered,  the  advantages  of  building  to  some 
point  on  the  Roanoke  to  connect  with  the  Virginia  lines, 
thereby  completing  one  of  the  important  links  in  the  line  of 
iron  rail  that  was  to  extend  from  Maine  to  Florida,  was 
realized,  and  in  the  amended  charter  the  new  corporation  was 
given  the  privilege  of  changing  its  destination. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  stockholders  was  held  on  March 
14,  1836,  in  the  courthouse  in  this  city,  and  organized  by 
electing  Gov.  E.  B.  Dudley  President  (at  a  salary  of 
$2,000),  and  the  following  directors:  Andrew  Joyner,  W.  D. 
Moseley,  James  S.  Battle,  Aaron  Lazarus,  Alex.  Anderson, 
Wm.  B.  Meares,  James  Owen,  P.  K.  Dickinson  R.  IL  Cowan, 
and  Thos.  H.  Wright.  Gen.  Alex.  MacRae  was  elected 
Superintendent,  and  James  S.  Green  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer. After  passing  several  resolutions  and  agreeing  to  start 
the  building  of  the  road  at  both  Halifax  and  Wilmington  at 
the  same  time,  the  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  again  on  the 
first  Monday  in  November  and  thereafter  annually  on  the 
first  Monday  in  May. 

The  building  of  the  road  was  commenced  in  October,  1836, 
although  little  was  done  until  January,  1837,  and  on  March 
Y,  1840,  the  last  spike  was  driven.  Its  actual  length  was 
161  1-2  miles  and  at  the  time  of  its  completion  it  had  the  fol- 
lowing equipment:  12  locomotives,  which  were  named, 
Nash,  Wayne  (built  by  R.  Stephenson  &  Co.,  Newcastle- 
on-Tyne,  England)  New  Hanover,  Edgecombe,  Brunswick, 
Duplin,  and  Bladen   (built  by  Wm.  Norris,  Philadelphia, 


134  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Pa.),  Greene,  Halifax,  and  Sampson  (built  by  Burr  &  Samp- 
eon,  Eichmond,  Va.). 

There  were  also  in  use  eight  8-wlieel  passenger  coaches, 
4  post  office  cars,  50  freight  cars,  and  4  steamers,  viz. :  the 
North  Carolina,  Wilmington,  Governor  Dudley,  and  C.  Van- 
derbilt. 

The  entire  road  was  constructed  under  the  following  super- 
vision :  Chief  Engineer,  Walter  Gwyn ;  Superintendent,  Alex- 
ander MacRae;  Principal  Assistant  Engineer  of  Southern 
Division,  Matthew  T.  Goldsborough,  and  Principal  Assistant 
Engineer  of  the  Northern  Division,  Francis  N.  Barbarin. 
The  road  was  first  laid  with  plate  iron  2  inches  by  5-8  inches 
on  wooden  stringers. 

On  April  5,  1840,  the  celebration  of  the  completion  of  the 
railroad  was  held  in  Wilmington.  The  report  says,  A 
large  number  of  gentlemen  assembled  in  the  town  from 
various  parts  of  the  State  and  from  Virginia  and  South 
Carolina,  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning.  The  bells  gave 
out  sonorous  peals  and  the  shipping  in  the  harbor  came  up, 
their  flags  waving.  Cannon  were  fired  every  fifteen  minutes 
throughout  the  day,  with  a  national  salute  at  meridian.  At 
2  p.  m.  a  procession,  composed  of  invited  guests  and  citizens, 
including  the  President,  Directors,  and  officers  of  other 
roads,  the  Board  of  Internal  Improvement,  the  Literary 
Board,  the  President,  Directors,  Engineers,  Agents  and 
others  in  the  employ  of  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Rail- 
road, was  formed  on  Front  Street,  under  the  direction  of 
Gen.  Alex.  MacRae,  marshal  of  the  day,  assisted  by  Maj. 
R.  F.  Brown,  and  marched  thence  to  the  dinner  table, 
escorted  by  the  Wilmington  Volunteers  with  their  fine  band 
of  music. 

The  dinner  was  set  out  at  the  depot  under  sheds  tempo- 
rarily prepared  for  the  purpose.  About  five  hundred  and 
fifty  were  at  the  tables,  which  were  amply  prepared  for 
hungry  men. 

Gen.  James  Owen,  the  President  of  the  Company,  pre- 
sided, assisted  by  the  Directors,  acting  as  Vice  Presidents. 


EABLY  YEARS  135 

Good  feeling  ruled  the  hour  and  good  cheer  gave  quick  winga 
to  the  nurslings  of  wit. 

Then  followed  a  number  of  toasts — jSity-seven  toasts  and 
eleven  letters  with  toasts. 

'Nov.  8,  1841. — Annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the 
Wilmington  and  Ealeigh  Eailroad  Co.  Gen.  James  Owen 
declined  further  service  as  President.  Ex-Gov.  Edward  B. 
Dudley  was  elected  in  his  stead  and  the  following  gentlemen 
as  directors:  P.  K.  Dickinson,  Alex.  Anderson,  Thos.  H. 
Wright,  Eobt.  H.  Cowan,  of  Wilmington,  Samuel  Potter,  of 
Smithville,  and  B.  F.  Moore,  of  Halifax. 

Nov.  1842. — Annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the 
Wilmington  and  Ealeigh  Eailroad  Co.  Edward  B.  Dudley 
was  reelected  President.  Directors:  Alex.  Anderson,  P.  K. 
Dickinson,  Samuel  Potter,  Jas.  S.  Battle,  A.  J.  DeEosset, 
and  Jas.  L.  Miller. 

Nov.  12,  184Y. — The  annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of 
the  Wilmington  and  Ealeigh  Eailroad  was  held  here.  Gen. 
Alexander  MacEae  was  elected  President  and  E.  B.  Dudley, 
P.  K  Dickinson,  Gilbert  Potter,  Jas.  L.  Miller,  O.  G.  Pars- 
ley, and  Wm.  A.  Wright,  Directors.  (The  same  as  last  year 
except  Wm.  A.  Wright  in  the  place  of  Dr.  John  Hill,  de- 
ceased.) 

At  this  meeting  it  was  resolved  that,  "The  stockholders 
of  the  Wilmington  and  Ealeigh  Eailroad  Co.,  in  general 
meeting  assembled,  da  hereby  pledge  to  the  Wilmington  and 
Manchester  Eailroad  Co.,  a  subscription  of  $100,000  to  be 
paid  on  the  completion  of  the  said  Manchester  Eailroad  from 
the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  steamboat  and  other  property, 
which  will  at  that  time  become  unnecessary  for  the  purpose 
of  this  Company:  Provided  that  our  Legislature  take  such 
action  as  may  authorize  said  subscription." 

!N'ov.  10,  1848. — Annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of 
the  Wilmington  and  Ealeigh  Eailroad  Co.  Ko  change  made 
in  the  President  or  Board  of  Directors,  except  four  directors 
on  the  part  of  the  State  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  Internal 
Improvement  Board. 


136  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

In  December,  1848,  a  bill  was  introduced  in  the  Legisla- 
ture authorizing  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad  Com- 
pany to  mortgage  the  road  and  its  appurtenances  for  about 
$600,000  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  iron  to  relay  its 
tracks,  and  in  January,  1849,  $020,000  was  authorized  and 
an  extension  of  ten  years  granted  for  the  repayment  to  the 
State  of  $300,000  for  money  borrowed.  Dr.  A.  J.  DeRosset 
was  sent  to  England,  where  he  purchased  8,000  tons  of  iron  to 
be  paid  for  by  the  present  bonds  of  the  company  secured  by 
mortgage  on  the  road. 

The  rail  commenced  to  arrive  in  October,  1849,  and  in 
January,  1850,  Congress  passed  an  Act  for  the  relief  of 
the  "Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Railroad,  providing  for  the  pay- 
ing of  import  duties  on  the  rail  by  deducting  annually  the 
amounts  due  from  the  Post  Office  Department  for  carrying 
the  mails.  It  was  then  the  T-rail  was  introduced,  which  su- 
perseded the  flat  iron. 

In  August,  1850,  Dr.  John  D.  Bellamy,  of  Wilmington, 
was  elected  to  succeed  Col.  Jas.  L.  Miller  as  a  director,  and 
in  November  of  the  same  year  at  the  regular  meeting  of  the 
Board  of  Directors  Gen.  Alexander  MacRae  and  the  entire 
Board  of  Directors  were  reelected.  A  surplus  of  $45,000 
was  directed  to  be  applied  to  the  extinguishment  of  the  debts 
of  the  company. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  Wilmington  and  Manches- 
ter Railroad  was  completed,  giving  a  through  rail  connection 
to  the  South,  and  thus  making  still  more  important  the  Wil- 
mington and  Weldon  Railroad,  as  the  Wilmington  and  Ra- 
leigh Railroad  came  to  be  called,  its  name  being  changed  by 
the  Legislature  in  1855. 

It  is  interesting  to  note,  with  reference  to  the  far-seeing 
qualities  of  the  men  of  1835  and  1836,  that  a  few  years  ago 
the  Chairman  of  the  Board  discovered  a  letter  written  in  the 
fine  spencerian  hand  of  Governor  Dudley,  the  first  President, 
outlining  the  policy  for  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  Rail- 
road, in  view  of  his  resignation  in  order  to  enter  Congress. 
The  extraordinary  character  of  this  proposed  policy  revealed 


EARLY  YEARS  137 

the  fact  that  the  Coast  Line  policy  under  its  new  administra- 
tion has  been  following  precisely  the  line  of  action  indicated 
by  Governor  Dudley  at  the  beginning  of  its  existence. 

The  Longest  Eaileoad  in  the  World. 

Probably  the  most  momentous,  the  most  dramatic  incident 
in  the  commercial  history  of  Wilmington  occurred  in  the 
fall  of  1835  in  the  south  wing  of  Gov.  Edward  B.  Dud- 
ley's residence  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Front  and 
Nunn  Streets,  where  a  number  of  prominent  Wilmington 
citizens  had  assembled  to  subscribe  their  respective  names  to 
the  stock  of  an  extraordinary  adventure — the  building  of  a 
railroad  from  Wilmington  to  Ealeigh,  to  be  called  the  Wil- 
mington and  Raleigh  Railroad. 

The  town  contained  at  that  time,  a  population  of  about 
three  thousand  souls,  a  majority  of  whom  were  negro  slaves, 
and  here  an  assembly  of  about  twenty  courageous  men  of  the 
little  corporation  actually  subscribed  a  larger  sum  than  the 
entire  taxables  of  Wilmington  amounted  to  in  that  year  to 
build  the  longest  railroad  in  the  whole  world. 

It  is  well  to  remember,  in  our  boasted  age  of  progress,  the 
splendid  example  of  the  fathers  of  1835,  whose  foresight  and 
self-sacrifice  laid  the  foundations  of  our  success.  Perhaps 
the  largest  subscription  was  that  of  Governor  Dudley,  $25,- 
000,  when  it  was  said  that  only  one  townsman,  a  prominent, 
enterprising,  and  most  estimable  gentleman,  could  write  his 
cheque  upon  a  Wilmington  bank  for  as  much  as  a  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

The  town  was  ably  and  economically  governed  by  a  few 
men,  born  aristocrats,  and  thoroughly  equipped  by  a  liberal 
education  and  practical  experience.  An  exaggerated  type  of 
class  intolerance  in  the  official  life  of  the  tovvm  was  that  of 
Anthony  Milan,  Esquire,  a  pompous  English  gentleman,  who, 
in  his  immaculate  linen,  spotless  broadcloth,  silk  hat,  gold  fob, 
and  eyeglass,  was  one  of  the  features  of  the  community,  and 
the  delightful  derision  of  the  small  boy. 


138  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

At  a  corner  of  Market  and  Front  Streets,  Mr.  Milan  was 
discussing  with  an  important  functionary  a  question  of 
public  affairs  in  the  presence  of  the  newly  elected  constable — 
the  only  policeman — who  incautiously  interjected  the  remark 
that  in  his  opinion,  etc. — Mr.  Milan  stared  at  him  with 
unmitigated  contempt — "And  pray,  sir,"  said  he,  "what  right 
have  you  to  an  opinion  ?"  (tempora  mutantur,  et  nos  mutamur 
in  illis). 

During  the  years  that  followed,  the  most  important  topic 
of  local  life  was  the  railroad,  which  so  overtaxed  the  means 
of  its  promoters  that  even  with  the  added  endorsement  of 
the  directors  its  official  order  for  a  hundred  dozen  shovels 
was  rejected. 

The  late  Robert  B.  "Wood,  one  of  the  railroad  contractors 
of  1836  and  later,  informed  me  many  years  ago,  that  this 
incident  led  to  a  proposal  by  the  railroad  directors  and  con- 
tractors that  Mr.  John  Dawson,  then  a  prosperous  dry  goods 
merchant  on  Market  Street  and  a  stockholder  in  the  railroad, 
should  add  to  his  business  a  hardware  department,  compris- 
ing tools  and  implements  needed  for  railroad  work,  assuring 
him  of  their  undivided  patronage.  This  was  agreed  to  and 
the  well  known  extensive  hardware  business  of  John  Dawson, 
which  led  that  trade  until  Mr.  Dawson  died,  had  its  origin 
and  advancement  in  that  way. 

Mr.  "Wood  also  informed  me  that  the  method  of  advertis- 
ing the  meetings  of  stockholders  and  directors,  which  were 
often  held,  was  unique.  He  owned  a  docile  gray  mare  which 
was  frequently  borrowed  by  the  officials  on  urgent  business 
and  also  used  to  make  known  the  meetings  by  a  large  placard 
hung  on  either  side  of  the  saddle  in  which  a  negTo  slave  rode 
constantly  ringing  a  large  brass  hand  bell,  and  paraded  the 
principal  streets,  proclaiming  "Railroad  meeting  tonight." 

Some  of  the  newspaper  illustrations  of  the  "cars"  as  the 
train  was  termed  in  its  early  days,  show  a  vehicle  closely 
resembling  the  old  stagecoach,  with  a  greater  number  of 
passengers  on  top  than  are  shown  inside. 


EARLY  YEARS  139 

Timid  apprehensions  of  danger  were  allayed  by  the  official 
assurance  upon  the  time-table,  that  under  no  circumstances 
will  the  cars  be  run  after  dark. 

Development  of  the  Railroad. 

When  President  Dudley  was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
he  was  succeeded  by  Gen.  Alexander  MacKae. 

In  those  early  days  there  were  numerous  difficulties  in 
operation,  but  General  MacEae  proved  himself  to  be  a  most 
capable  and  efficient  manager.  The  Board  of  Directors  was 
composed  of  some  of  the  most  competent  business  men  of 
Wilmington — men  unsurpassed  for  capability,  energy,  and 
integrity.  They  placed  the  bonds  of  the  road  in  London  on 
advantageous  terms,  and  the  construction  was  cheap  and 
without  unnecessary  expenditure. 

In  1854  William  S.  Ashe  became  President.  General 
conditions  were  now  changing.  The  South  was  emerging 
from  infantile  weakness,  and  industries  were  developing  and 
multiplying. 

On  the  completion  of  the  ]N"orth  Carolina  Eailroad,  Colonel 
Fisher  and  Mr.  Ashe  arranged  for  western  products  to  come 
to  Wilmington  through  Goldsboro,  and  a  line  of  steamers 
was  put  on  from  Wilmington  to  New  York,  carrying  North 
Carolina's  products  to  the  markets  of  the  world  from  a 
North  Carolina  port — the  consummation  of  Mr.  Ashe's  pur- 
pose when  he  drew  the  charter  of  the  North  Carolina  Rail- 
road. 

But  passenger  traffic  was  of  equal  importance  to  the  road, 
and  Mr.  Ashe  sought  to  build  up  a  great  through  passenger 
business.  He  sought  to  eliminate  as  far  as  practicable  all 
breaks  at  terminals,  and  to  relieve  travel  of  its  inconvenience 
and  tedium,  and  in  conjunction  with  Senator  David  L.  Yulee, 
the  President  of  the  Florida  Railroad,  he  developed  Florida 
travel  until  it  reached  large  proportions  and  became  a  highly 
remunerative  business. 


140  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Recognized  throughout  the  South  as  a  dominant  influence 
in  railroad  matters  and  a  most  successful  manager,  in  1861, 
at  the  request  of  President  Davis,  he  took  supervision  of  all 
Confederate  transportation  east  of  the  Mississippi  River, 
but  he  still  remained  President  of  the  Wilmington  and 
Weldon  Railroad  until  his  death  in  September,  1862. 


WILMINGTON'S  COMMERCE. 

The  Boston  Courier  of  July  23,  1830,  says:  ''One  hundred 
and  fifty-one  more  vessels  have  entered  the  port  of  Wilming- 
ton this  year  than  last,  including  in  the  number  1  ship,  2 
barks,  181  brigs,  the  rest  (410)  schooners.  These  tar-and- 
shingle  skippers,  which  carry  large  topsails,  everywhere  be- 
sprinkle our  coast.  Now  Wilmington  is  the  gTand  railroad 
and  steamboat  thoroughfare.  She  is  taking  the  position  that 
belongs  to  her  and  recalling  the  proud  days  of  her  prosperity 
before  the  American  Revolution." 

The  Richmond  (Va.)  Compiler  says:  "One  hundred  and 
fifty-one  more  vessels  have  entered  the  Port  of  Wilmington 
this  year  than  last.  This  shows  great  advance  in  trade.  We 
have  been  surprised  to  hear  that  the  tonnage  of  Wilmington 
exceeds  that  of  Richmond,  although  the  town  has  not  one- 
fourth  of  our  population.  It  must  be  a  place  of  great  enter- 
prise if  we  judge  from  what  has  been  done  within  the  last  few 
years.  We  feel  admiration  for  such  a  people  and  take  plea- 
sure in  expressing  it." 

Wilmington's  Public  Spirit. 

(The  Fayetteville  Observer  of  January,  1850.) 

The  public  spirit  of  the  citizens  of  our  sister  to^^Ti  is  really 
amazing:  it  seems  to  have  no  limit  when  any  scheme  is 
presented  which  is  regarded  as  essential  to  the  prosperity  or 
honor  of  the  place.  And  the  resources  of  the  community 
seem  to  be  as  abundant  as  the  spirit  with  which  they  are  em- 
ployed is  liberal. 

Some  twelve  or  fourteen  years  ago,  when  the  population 


EARLY  YEARS  141 

was  but  three  or  four  thousand,  she  undertook  to  make  a 
railroad  161  miles  long  (the  longest  in  the  world),  and  a 
steamboat  line  of  equal  length.  For  this  purpose  she  sub- 
scribed more  than  half  a  million  dollars,  we  believe. 

This  accomplished  with  almost  the  total  loss  of  the  half 
million,  so  far  as  the  stock  was  concerned,  however  profitable 
in  other  respects,  one  might  have  expected  a  pause  at  least, 
if  not  a  total  cessation  in  the  march  of  improvements,  and 
so  it  would  have  been  with  almost  any  other  people.  But 
soon  the  Wilmington  and  Manchester  Railroad  was  projected, 
and  Wilming-ton  subscribed  $180,000  to  it.  Then  came 
the  Deep  Eiver  and  Navigation  Company,  and  she  gave 
$30,000  to  $40,000,  we  believe,  to  that.  Next  the  Central 
Eailroad,  and  she  subscribed  about  $50,000,  and  finally,  it 
being  found  necessary  to  raise  an  additional  sum  for  the 
Manchester  Road,  she  held  a  meeting  on  the  5th  inst.,  at 
which  $50,000  more,  making  $230,000  in  all,  was  subscribed 
to  that  work.  (This  was  increased  to  $100,000  by  the  10th, 
making  $280,000.) 

Thus  this  community,  even  now  not  containing  more  than 
eight  or  nine  thousand  inhabitants,  of  whom  probably  not 
more  than  two-thirds  are  white,  has  contributed  to  public 
works  eight  or  nine  hundred  thousand  dollars — nearly  as 
much  as  is  required  from  the  State  to  secure  the  Central 
Railroad. 

With  all  this  prodigious  expenditure,  who  hears  of  any 
pressure  or  bankruptcy — any  interruption  of  her  onward 
course  of  prosperity !  Truly — "There  is  that  scattereth  and 
yet  increaseth." 

It  is  not  for  the  purpose  of  honoring  Wilmington  merely 
that  we  make  this  statement,  but  it  is  to  encourage  the 
friends  of  internal  improvement  throughout  the  State,  and, 
if  possible,  to  remove  the  objections  of  those  who  doubt  the 
policy  or  profitableness  of  the  system. 


142  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 


ACTIVITIES  OlS  THE  RIVER,  1850-1860. 

In  the  fifties  there  were  frequently  as  many  as  ninety 
vessels  in  the  port  of  Wilmington  loading  or  unloading,  or 
waiting  for  berths  at  anchor  in  the  stream.  The  wharves 
were  lined  two  vessels  deep,  and  those  waiting  for  orders 
were  moored  nearly  as  far  down  the  river  as  the  Dram 
Tree.     It  was  a  season  of  great  activity. 

A  large  business  in  corn  in  bulk  was  also  carried  on  with 
Hyde  County,  and  for  this  trade  a  fleet  of  small  schooners 
called  Corn  Crackers  was  employed.  It  was  most  exhilarat- 
ing on  a  fine  day  to  see  this  tiny  fleet,  twenty  to  thirty  white 
wings,  rounding  the  Dram  Tree  led  by  the  We're  here,  I'm 
coming,  and  So  am  I,  with  every  stitch  of  canvas  spread 
to  the  favoring  breeze  on  the  last  stretch  to  the  Customhouse 
Wharf. 

Direct  importations  of  coffee  from  Rio  de  Janeiro,  of 
sugar  and  molasses  from  Cuba,  Jamaica,  and  Demarara,  of 
hoopiron  and  cotton  ties  from  England,  of  salt  from  Turks 
Island  and  Liverpool  employed  many  square-rigged  foreign 
vessels ;  and  three  times  as  many  beautifully  lined  American 
schooners  added  miscellaneous  cargoes  from  the  North  to  the 
overladen  wharves  of  Wilmington. 

The  class  of  merchants  and  professional  men  of  those  days 
was  highly  respectable  and  respected ;  nearly  all  were  men  of 
education  and  refinement,  and  they  were  always  keenly  in- 
terested in  public  affairs.  I  note  from  memory  some  of  the 
more  important  business  men  and  firms  of  importers,  com- 
mission merchants,  and  shipbrokers,  physicians,  bankers,  and 
lawyers,  who  were  established  between  Orange  Street  and 
Red  Cross  Street  on  the  river  front  along  Water  Street  and 
ISTutt  Street  and  uptown : 

T.  C.  &  B.  G.  Worth  James  H.  Chadboum  &  Co. 

N.  G.  Daniel  Kidder  &  Martin 

Pierce  &  Dudley  Joseph  H.  Neff 

C.  W.  Styron  Rankin  &  Martin 

James  D.  Gumming  Anderson  &  Savage 


EARLY  YEARS 


143 


W.  B.  McKoy  &  Co. 

Houston  &  West 

J.  R.  Blossom  &  Co. 

A.  H.  VanBokkelen 

J.   E.    Lippitt 

H.   B.  Eilers 

J.   L.   Hathaway   &   Utley 

A.  W.  Coville 
DeRosset  &  Brown 
Murray  &  Murchison 
James  T.  Petteway  &  Co. 
Ellis  &  Mitchell 

Hall  &  Armstrong 
W.  H.  McRary  &  Co. 
M.  Mclnnis 
Avon  E.  Hall 
Harris  &  Howell 
J.  &  D.  MacRae  &  Co. 

B.  G.  &  W.  J.  Monroe 
Clark  &  Turlington 
Henry  Nutt 

C.  H.  Robinson  &  Co. 
A-  D.  Cazaux 
Alexander  Oldham 
Smith  &  McLaurin 
O.  G.  Parsley  &  Co. 
Joseph  H.  Flanner 
W.  B.  Planner 
James  I.  Metts 

G.  O.  VanAmringe 

H.  P.  Russell  &  Co. 

P.  K.  Dickinson 

Thomas  D.  Walker,  President 
Wilmington     &    Manchester 
Railroad. 

William  S.  Ashe,  President  Wil- 
mington &  Weldon  Railroad. 

John  Dawson 

P.  W.  Fanning 

John  S.  James 

W.  C.  Bettencourt 

Zebulon  Latimer 

Adam  Empie 

Thomas  C.  Miller,  collector 

Thomas  H.  Wright,  banker 

Joshua  G.  Wright 


O.  P.  Meares 

W.  B.  Meares 

George  Davis 

W.  A.  Wright 

Robert  Strange 

Duncan  K.  MacRae 

Samuel  J.  Person 

DuBrutz  Cutlar 

Griffith  J.  McRee 

Alexander  Anderson 

Dr.  E.  A.  Anderson 

Stephen  Jewett 

Timothy  Savage 

H.  R.  Savage 

L.  A.  Hart 

George  Myers 

Charles  D.  Myers 

J.  S.  Robinson 

Hedrick  &  Ryan 

J.  S.  Williams 

James  Dawson 

Richard  J.  Jones 

Dr.  J.  Fergus  McRee 

Dr.  J.  P.  McRee,  Jr. 

Dr.  James  H.  Dickson 

Dr.  F.  J.  Cutlar 

Dr.  William  J.  Harriss 

Dr.  John  D.  Bellamy 

Dr.  William  George  Thomas 

Dr.  F.  J.  Hill 

Dr.  John  Hill 

Dr.  W.  A.  Berry 

Dr.  J.  C.  Walker 

Dr.  Thomas  F.  Wood 

Dr.  F.  W.  Potter 

Dr.  John  Hampden  Hill 

Louis  Erambert 

Col.  James  G.  Burr 

Alfred  Alderman 

James  S.  Alderman 

Edward  B.  Dudley 

James  Owen 

Alexander  McRae 

Asa  A.  Brown 

E.  P.  Hall 

Joseph  H.  Watters 


144 


CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 


Gilbert  Potter 

James  S.  Green 

Wm.  A.  Williams 

John  Cowan 

John  Wooster 

A.  M.  Waddell 

Wm.  C.  Lord 

R.  W.  Brown 

Geo.  W.  Davis 

J.  W.  K.  Dix 

John  C.  Latta 

Isaac  Northrop 

Zeno  H.  Green 

Jacob  Lyon 

James  Wilson 

S.  P.  Watters 

Walker  Meares 

Talcott  Burr,  jr. 

James  T.  Miller 

Alexander  Sprunt 

Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Atkinson 

Cyrus  S.  VanAmringe 

H.  R.  Savage 

Daniel  B.  Baker 

N.  N.  Nixon 

Daniel  L.  Russell 

R.  H.  Cowan 

John  A.  Taylor 

Rev.  Dr.  R.  B.  Drane 

Dougald  McMillan 

Samuel  Davis 

W.  S.  Anderson 

R.  S.  French 

Eli  W.  Hall 

Wm.  McRae 

W.  L.  Smith 

Thomas  L,  Colville 

John  C.  Bailey 

James  M.  Stevenson 

James  Dawson 

Robert  B.  Wood 

Geo.  R.  French 


Rev.  Father  Murphy 
Rev.  John  L.  Pritchard 
S.  D.  Wallace 
A.  L.  Price 
R.  R.  Bridgers 
John  L.  Holmes 
M.  London 
John  C.  Heyer 

E.  A.  Keith 

F.  J.  Lord 
T.  D.  Love 
Rev.  M.  B.  Grler 

Rev.  C.  F.  Deems,  D.D. 
Jos.  Price 

G.  H.  Kelly 
Henry  Planner 
W.  P.  Elliott 
M.  M.  Kattz 

L.  B.  Huggins 
Wm.  G.  Fowler 
L.  Vollers 
Edward  Savage 
A.  H.  Cutts 
G.  A.  Peck 
Hugh  Waddell 
James  A.  Willard 
W.  H.  Lippitt 
Junius  D.  Gardner 
John  Judge 
James  Fulton 
Thomas  Loring 
William  B.  Giles 
Richard  A.  Bradley 
Wm.  N.  Peden 
Gaston  Meares 
Joseph  S.  Murphy 
William  Reston 
John  Reston 
John  Colville 
William  Watters 
A.  A.  Willard 


And  last,  but  not  least,  mine  host,  Jack  Bishop,  who  kept 
the  Pilot  House  on  the  wharf  and  furnished  the  best  table 
fare  in  Wilmington  to  a  large  number  of  merchants,  master 
mariners,    and  pilots,   at  very  moderate   prices — ^he  whose 


EARLY  YEARS  145 

breadth  of  beam  and  suggestive  sign  combined  to  make  him 
known  as  "Paunchous  Pilot" — and  his  genial  neighbor  at  the 
foot  of  Dock  Street,  Jimmie  Baxter,  who  always  wore  a  bat- 
tered beaver  hat,  regardless  of  corresponding  conventionalities 
of  dress,  and  with  his  brother  Barney  supplied  the  ships  with 
pantry  stores. 

Some  of  us  still  remember  Jimmie  Baxter's  kindly  salu- 
tation with  its  warning  for  the  day :  "An  if  ye  meet  the  Divil 
in  the  way,  don't  shtop  to  shake  hands  wid  him." 


CAPE  FEAR  COAL. 

I  am  informed  by  State  Geologist,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 
that  coal  was  found  in  two  sections  of  our  State,  one  in  Chat- 
ham and  in  Moore  Counties,  the  other  in  Stokes  County. 

Mining  was  done  on  the  deposits  of  Chatham  and  Moore 
Counties,  and  for  many  years  a  small  amount  of  coal  was 
gotten  out,  but  the  industry  was  not  profitable  because  the 
coal  basin  is  not  extensive.  The  seams  are  thin;  and  the 
few  wider  ones  are  cut  up  with  slate,  and  so  mixed  with 
sulphur  that  the  quality  was  always  bad. 

The  use  of  this  l^orth  Carolina  coal  during  the  War  be- 
tween the  States  led  to  the  capture  of  several  fine  blockade- 
running  steamers  whose  supply  of  Welsh  coal  had  been  seized 
by  the  Confederate  officials  and  "Egypt"  coal  substituted. 
This  was  so  worthless  that  it  was  impossible  to  raise  and  keep 
steam,  and  consequently  these  unfortunate  and  valuable  ships 
fell  an  easy  prey  to  the  Federal  cruisers. 

With  reference  to  my  further  inquiries  on  this  subject, 
Dr.  Joseph  Austin  Holmes,  Director  of  the  Bureau  of  Mines 
at  Washington,  says:  "Coal  was  opened  up  between  1855 
and  1858,  in  Chatham  County  at  a  place  called  Egypt,  under 
the  advice  of  Dr.  Ebenezer  Emmons,  then  State  Geologist. 
The  coal  was  at  that  time  regarded  as  of  considerable  promise. 

"During  the  year  1858  an  examination  was  made  of  the 
Deep  River  region,  one  of  the  principal  tributaries  of  the 
Cape  Fear,  by  Captain  Wilkes  and  other  officers  of  the  United 


146  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

States  Navj,  in  compliance  with  a  Senate  resolution 
adopted  on  April  13,  1858.  As  a  result  of  this  investiga- 
tion, and  in  a  report  published  as  an  Executive  document 
early  in  1859,  Captain  Wilkes  and  his  associates  reported 
favorably  on  the  proposition  that  the  Deep  River  region  was 
a  suitable  one  for  the  establishment  of  foundries  and  other 
plants  for  the  production  of  naval  ordnance  and  supplies." 

Captain  Wilkes  made  the  following  statement  in  regard  to 
the  coal: 

"It  is  a  shining  and  clean  coal,  resembling  the  best  speci- 
mens of  Cumberland  (Md.).  It  ignites  easily,  and  burns 
with  a  bright,  clear  combustion,  and  leaves  a  very  little  pur- 
plish grey  ash.  It  is  a  desirable  coal  for  blacksmiths'  use, 
for  the  parlor,  and  superior  to  most  coals  for  the  production 
of  gas,  for  which  it  is  likely  to  be  in  great  demand.  Its 
freedom  from  sulphur  is  another  of  its  recommendations." 

These  favorable  preliminary  reports  by  Captain  Wilkes  of 
the  Navy  Department,  and  Doctor  Emmons,  the  State  Geolo- 
gist of  North  Carolina,  awakened  considerable  interest  in  the 
development  of  this  coal.  But  it  was  found  in  subsequent 
operations  that  the  coal,  as  mined,  generally  contained  a 
considerable  quantity  of  slate  and  other  black  earthy  mate- 
rial, that  its  ash  formed  a  slag  on  the  grate  bars,  and  that 
it  contained  no  little  sulphur.  This  composition  made  it  a 
rather  dijQBcult  coal  to  use  in  ordinary  furnaces.  But  dur- 
ing the  war,  it  was  extensively  used  to  make  coke  for  the 
iron  works  established  in  the  Deep  River  region.  It  was 
also  used  as  a  steam  coal,  but  its  use  on  board  blockade 
runners  and  other  ships  was  found  highly  objectionable  both 
on  account  of  the  poor  quality  of  the  coal  and  the  smoke 
which  resulted  from  its  use. 

At  intervals  between  1870  and  1900  the  shaft  at  the  Egypt 
coal  mine  (about  465  feet  deep)  was  again  opened  and  the 
mine  worked  on  a  small  local  scale,  the  coal  being  shipped 
to  Raleigh,  Fayetteville,  and  other  local  markets;  but  it 
never  became  a  good  merchantable  coal,  and  its  use  re- 
mained limited  and  local. 


EARLY  YEARS  147 

Besides,  the  coal  itself  gave  off  in  the  mine  considerable 
quantities  of  explosive  gas,  and  there  were  several  bad  ex- 
plosions, one  of  which,  in  December,  1895,  killed  thirty-nine 
men,  and  another,  in  May,  1900,  killed  twenty-three  men. 
The  operating  company  was  much  discouraged  by  these  disas- 
ters, and  the  mine  was  closed. 

There  is  probably  a  considerable  quantity  of  coal  still  to 
be  obtained  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  Egypt  mine,  and  if  the 
mine  were  worked  with  modern  safety  precautions,  to  pre- 
vent disastrous  explosions,  and  the  coal  were  washed  so  as  to 
remove  the  dirt,  it  would  be  found  to  be  a  fairly  satisfactory 
fuel.  If  briquetted  (as  is  frequently  done  in  European 
countries),  it  would  be  both  suitable  and  available  for  do- 
mestic use  in  the  adjacent  markets. 

The  formation  in  which  this  coal  occurs  extends  from  the 
South  Carolina  line  northward  to  near  Oxford  in  Granville 
County,  its  greatest  width  being  from  twelve  to  fifteen  miles: 
At  different  points  in  this  formation  there  are  beds  of  sand- 
stone available  for  building  purposes ;  but  the  workable 
coal  seems  to  be  limited  to  a  few  thousand  acres  in  that  part 
of  Chatham  County  near  the  old  hamlet  of  Egypt,  formerly 
known  as  the  Gulf,  but  which  during  the  past  few  years 
has  been  called  Cumnock. 


rORGOTTElT  AIDS  TO  THE  ITAVIGATIOI^  OF  THE 
CAPE  FEAR. 

In  June,  1851,  the  topsail  schooner  Gallatin,  of  the  United 
States  Coast  Survey,  appeared  off  the  main  bar  and  sailed 
into  the  quiet  harbor  of  Smithville,  the  base  of  operations. 

She  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant,  Commanding,  John 
E"ewland  Maffitt,  U.  S.  N. ;  and  the  six  lieutenants  under 
him  included  several  who  rose  to  the  rank  of  Commander, 
and  one  to  the  distinction  of  Admiral  in  the  U.  S.  Ifavy. 
Three  of  them  were  subsequently  distinguished  in  the  annals 
of  the  Cape  Fear.  Maffitt,  the  daring  commander  of  the 
Confederate  States  Corvette  Florida;  J.  Pembroke  Jones, 
11 


148  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

commander  of  the  C.  S.  Ram  Raleigh,  and  subsequently 
commander  of  other  vessels  of  war,  and,  finally,  a  promi- 
nent officer  in  the  naval  service  of  the  Argentine  Republic; 
and  Lieut.  Charles  P.  Bolles,  a  master  in  the  art  of  triangu- 
lation  and  topography,  whose  name  with  that  of  Maffitt 
appears  upon  all  the  old  charts  of  the  Cape  Fear. 

The  eminent  Superintendent  of  the  Coast  Survey  at 
Washington,  Professor  Bache,  in  his  official  reports  to  Sec- 
retary Corwin,  makes  frequent  reference  to  the  valuable 
services  of  Lieut.  Commanding  Maffitt,  who  had  charge  of 
the  hydrography  in  this  section  of  the  Atlantic  coast.  In 
one  report  he  says :  "Lieut.  Commanding  J.  K.  Maffitt,  U.  S. 
ISTavy,  assistant  in  the  Coast  Survey,  in  command  of  the 
schooner  Gallatin,  has  executed  the  soundings  of  the  bar  of 
the  Cape  Fear  River,  commencing  at  the  most  southern  point 
of  Cape  Fear,  extending  at  a  distance  of  from  two  and  a 
half  to  three  and  a  half  miles  from  shore  to  the  northward 
and  westward,  including  the  main  bar,  middle  ground,  and 
western  bar,  the  river  up  to  'New  Inlet,  that  bar,  and  the 
Sheep's  Head  ledge." 

In  the  execution  of  this  work  25,688  soundings  were  made, 
18,010  angles  measured,  and  389  miles  of  soundings  run; 
thirty-fi.ve  specimens  of  bottoms  were  preserved,  and  fifteen 
observations  of  currents  made.  After  this  work  was  com- 
pleted, Lieutenant  Commanding  Maffitt  proceeded  to  make  a 
hydrographic  reconnaissance  of  the  New  River  bars,  and  of 
the  river  above  the  obstructions.  In  making  this  recon- 
naissance, 5,8Y0  soundings  were  made,  481  angles  measured, 
and  fifty  miles  of  soundings  run. 

With  reference  to  the  social  life  of  these  gentlemen,  Mrs. 
Maffitt  says:  "When  Lieutenant  Maffitt  visited  Smithville 
its  citizens  were  composed  of  the  best  people  of  the  Cape  Fear 
region.  Its  residences,  generally  deserted  in  the  winter 
months,  were  filled  during  the  summer  and  early  fall  with 
the  elite  of  Wilmington  society,  then  in  its  zenith  of  culture, 
refinement,  and  that  open  and  profuse  hospitality  for  which 
it  has  from  early  Colonial  times  been  distinguished.     The 


EARLY  YEARS  149 

officers  of  the  Coast  Survey  and  their  families  were  domi- 
ciled at  the  barracks  in  the  Garrison  grounds. 

"The  residents  opened  their  hearts  and  homes  to  them 
and  vied  with  each  other  in  rendering  their  stay  a  pleasant 
one. 

"Like  most  small  communities  having  few  interests  ou1> 
side  of  themselves,  there  was  at  times  a  tendency  to  indulge 
in  unpleasant  gossip,  and  in  order  to  quell  this  by  giving  a 
new  source  of  interest,  Lieutenant  Maffitt  proposed  organiz- 
ing a  dramatic  company ;  and,  to  insure  the  actors  against  un- 
kind criticism  of  amateurs,  he  made  it  a  condition  of  entrance 
to  the  plays  that  all  who  desired  to  witness  the  performances 
should  sign  their  names  as  members  of  the  company  before 
receiving  their  tickets.     And  this  proved  a  perfect  success." 

Dr.  W.  G.  Curtis,  says:  "The  old  residents  of  Smith- 
ville,  before  the  season  was  over,  gave  this  troupe  the  credit 
of  driving  out  the  gossips  or  closing  their  lips.  In  a  word, 
the  whole  society  became  a  mutual  admiration  society.  Har- 
mony prevailed  everywhere.  Sermons  were  preached  every 
Sunday  at  the  chapel  and  the  services  were  well  attended; 
but  the  members  of  the  church  often  said  that  the  good 
feeling  of  all  the  attendants,  brought  about  by  our  troupe, 
put  them  in  a  better  frame  of  mind  to  listen  to  the  teachings 
from  the  pulpit." 

Of  Captain  Maffitt,  of  the  Confederacy,  much  has  been 
written.  Of  this  intrepid  commander,  it  was  said  by  a  dis- 
tinguished visitor  in  1868 :  "Amongst  the  many  interesting 
men  I  met  at  Wilmington  was  the  well  known  Captain  Maf- 
fitt, whose  adventurous  career  upon  the  high  seas,  as  com- 
mander of  the  Florida^  excited  so  much  attention  at  the 
time. 

"I  found  the  Captain  a  cultivated  and  gentlemanly  man, 
small-sized  and  spare  in  figure,  but  with  a  finely-cast  head,  a 
dark,  keen  eye,  a  strong  tuft  of  black  whiskers  on  his  chin, 
and  a  firm  little  mouth  that  seemed  to  express  the  energy  and 
determination  of  his  character.  I  remember  very  well  his 
dignified  appearance  as  he  stepped  about  in  his  short  military 


160  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

cloak,  with  his  keen  and  somewhat  stem  look.  He  was  in 
reduced  circumstances,  having  staked  his  whole  fortune  and 
position  upon  the  Lost  Cause;  but,  like  so  many  of  his  old 
military  and  naval  associates,  he  was  trying  his  hand  at  busi- 
ness and  striving  to  reconcile  himself  to  the  new  order  of 
things." 

In  "The  Life  and  Services"  of  this  remarkable  man  of 
the  Cape  Fear,  his  gifted  widow,  Mrs.  Emma  Martin  Maf- 
fitt,  has  contributed  to  our  history  a  volume  of  intensely 
interesting  and  instructive  literature. 

Well  may  we  say  of  him,  as  it  was  said  of  the  gallant  !N'ey, 
"He  was  the  bravest  of  the  brave." 


FAYETTEVILLE  0:N^  THE  CAPE  FEAR. 

The  cordial  social  and  business  relations  which  have  sub- 
sisted between  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville  for  more  than  a 
century  were  never  closer  nor  more  profitable  than  in  the 
fifty  years  preceding  the  War  between  the  States. 

Known  as  Cross  Creek  and  Campbellton  up  to  1784,  its 
name  was  then  changed  to  Fayetteville,  in  tribute  to  the 
services  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  a  hero  of  both  the 
French  and  American  Revolutions,  who  subsequently  visited 
Fayetteville  in  1824. 

The  people  of  Fayetteville,  thrifty  and  enterprising  as  hos- 
pitable and  cultured,  were  among  the  first  in  the  State  to 
establish  cotton  factories;  and  being  at  the  head  of  water 
transportation  and  having  an  extensive  system  of  plank 
roads  into  the  interior,  Fayetteville  was  the  great  mart  of 
trade  in  North  Carolina,  especially  for  the  extensive  country 
lying  west  to  the  Blue  Ridge  and  even  for  the  transmontane 
country  comprising  parts  of  East  Tennessee  and  Southwest 
Virginia.  This  trade  was  carried  on  by  canvas-topped  wag- 
ons as  vehicles  of  transportation,  drawn  by  two,  four,  and 
even  six  horses,  but  mules  in  those  days  were  seldom  em- 
ployed. Said  Mr.  J.  H.  Myrover,  the  historian  of  Fayette- 
ville : 


EABLY  YEARS  161 

"The  starting  point  of  all  this  vast  back  country  carrying 
trade  was  the  wharves  and  Water  Street  in  Wilmington, 
though  m  the  early  part  of  the  last  century  wagoning  was 
done  by  stages,  or  relays,  between  Fayetteville  and  Philadel- 
phia, before  the  first  steamer  was  put  on  the  Cape  Fear. 
Among  the  pioneers  of  steamboat  building  and  operating  on 
tiie  Cape  Fear  Ei.er,  though  perhaps  not  the  first,  was  Mr. 
Seawell.     One  of  the  first  boats  to  ply  the  stream  bore  the 
same  name  as  one  of  the  last-the  City  of  FayMeville.     It 
was  launched  not  far  from  the  Clarendon  Bridge,  and  it  has 
been  related  that  some  one  having  prophesied  that  it  would 
turn_  turtle   when  it  reached  the  water,  the  architect  boldly 
rode  Its  bow  as  it  slipped  off  the  ways,  and  the  event  justified 
his  faith  in  his  work. 

"It  is  impossible,  with  the  lapse  of  time,  to  enumerate  all 
the  craft  that  formed  the  Cape  Fear  merchant  marine,  the 
Henrietta,  Fanny  Lutierloh,  Cotton  Plant.  Zephyr  Maq. 
nolm.  Halcyon,  Governor  Worth,  Norih  State  A  P  Hurt 
D.  UurcUson,  R.  E.  Lee,  are  recalled  as  leading  among  the 
passenger  and  freight  steamers,  from  the  thirties  up  to  and 
for  3ome  time  after  the  Civil  War.  Equally  impossible 
would  It  be  to  give  the  names  and  record  of  the  services  of 
tie  faithful  captains. 

"Notable  commanders  in  the  history  of  Cape  Fear  naviga- 
tion were  Captains  John  P.  Stedman,  who  lost  his  life  by  the 
^plosion  of  the  boiler  of  the  Fanny  Lntterhh;  Rush,  A  P 
Hurt  (after  whom  a  steamer  was  named)  ;  Phillips,  Skinner,' 
Green,  Worth,   Smith,  Garrason.     The  captain's    rule    on 
board  was  autocratic  but  patriarchal.     He  sat  at  the  head  of 
the    able  and  served   the  passengers,    as  the  father  of  a 
family  would  his  children.     The  fare  was  plain,  but  whole- 
some and  abundant,  and,  with  good  weather  and  a  fair  depth 
of  water,  the  trip  between  Fayetteville  and  Wilmington  was 
Tery  pleasant.     The  river  goes  on  its  way  to  the  sea  with 
naany  a  wind  and  bend,  its  banks  steep  and  heavily  wooded, 
the  wild  grape  climbing  the  tall  trees,  and  the  wild  jasmine 
and    flowering    honeysuckle    giving    forth    their  fragrance. 


152  GAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Those  veteran  captains  knew  the  river  well  and  most  of  the 
people  on  either  bank  clear  to  Wilmington ;  the  pilots,  many 
of  whom  were  negroes,  knew  every  crook  and  eddy  of  the 
stream.  Dan  Buxton,  an  esteemed  colored  man  of  this 
city,  has  a  record  of  fifty  years  faithful  service  as  a  pilot  on 
the  Cape  Fear.  The  late  Col.  Thos.  S.  Lutterloh,  always 
a  large  boat  o,wner,  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  Cumberland 
man  to  become  sole  ov^mer  of  a  steamer  on  the  river.  Many 
of  the  business  men  of  Fayetteville  and  Wilmington  were 
stockholders  in  these  boat  lines. 

"The  oldest  inhabitants  still  look  back  on  those  times  as  the 
'good  old  days'  of  Fayetteville.  The  merchants  were  not  the 
progressive  men  of  the  20th  century ;  they  were  conservative 
and  cautious  and  honest  as  the  day,  with  their  word  as  bond. 
They  made  money  slowly,  but  they  lived  simply,  and  gradu- 
ally accumulated  modest  fortunes." 

United  States  Minister  E.  J.  Hale  says: 

"From  the  close  of  the  Revolution  and  up  to  the  building 
of  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  [Weldon]  railroad  and  the 
Raleigh  and  Gaston  Railroad  (about  1838),  the  gTcat  mail 
stage  lines  from  the  North  to  the  South  passed  through  Fay- 
etteville. There  were  four  daily  lines  of  four  horse  post 
and  passenger  coaches  to  Raleigh,  Norfolk,  Charleston  and 
Columbia ;  and,  in  addition,  two  tri-weekly  lines  to  New  Bern 
and  Salisbury. 

"The  Legislature  sat  in  Fayetteville  in  1788,  1789,  1790 
and  1793.  At  the  Convention  at  Hillsborough  in  1788, 
called  to  deliberate  on  the  acceptance  or  rejection  of  the 
United  States  Constitution,  Fayetteville  failed  to  secure  the 
location  of  the  permanent  capital  by  one  vote,  that  of  Timo- 
thy Bloodworth,  of  New  Hanover,  who  subsequently  was 
elected  United  States  Senator.  The  ordinance  adopted  fixed 
the  location  of  the  capital  on  Joel  Lane's  plantation  in  Wake, 
on  the  ground  that  this  point  was  nearer  the  centre  of  the 
State  than  Fayetteville." 


Notable  Incidents 

VISITS  OF  PRESIDEIsTTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 
TO  WILMINGTON  BEFORE  THE  WAR. 

"Wilmington/'  said  Iredell  Meares,  Esq.,  in  an  interesting 
pamphlet,  "has  been  honored  by  the  visits  of  five  of  the  Presi- 
dents of  the  United  States — Washington,  Monroe,  Polk, 
Fillmore,  and  Taft." 

General  Washington^  in  1791,  made  a  tour  of  the  South- 
ern States.  One  of  his  biographers  relates  that  "no  royal 
progTess  in  any  country  ever  equaled  this  tour  in  its  demon- 
strations of  veneration  and  respect."  His  visit  to  Wilming- 
ton was  preserved  in  the  traditions  of  the  people  for  many 
years.  The  old  folks  used  to  tell  of  its  incidents,  and  the 
ladies  of  "ye  olden  times"  of  an  elaborate  ball  given  in  his 
honor.  In  the  possession  of  Mr.  Clayton  Giles,  of  this  city, 
is  a  letter  in  excellent  state  of  preservation  giving  some  ac- 
count of  this  interesting  incident.  It  was  written  by  Mrs- 
Jane  Anna  Simpson  to  her  sister  on  the  day  of  the  reception, 
and  is  dated  the  "25th  April,  1791."  The  letter,  among 
other  things,  says : 

"Great  doings  this  day.  General  Washington  arrived  yes- 
terday. The  Light  Horse  went  to  meet  him.  The  artillery 
were  ready  to  receive  him  with  a  round  from  the  batteries, 
four  guns.  This  day  he  dines  with  the  Gentlemen  of  the 
town;  in  the  evening  a  grand  ball  and  illumination;  to-mor- 
row takes  his  leave.  I  believe  the  Light  Horse  are  to  escort 
him  a  day's  journey  on  his  way  to  Chas'ton. 

"Half-past  four —  just  going  to  dinner —  cannons  firing; 
Chrissy  and  the  children  all  gone  to  see  the  procession.  I 
don't  go  to  the  ball  this  evening,  as  Mary  can  not  accompany 
me.  She  desires  me  to  ask  if  you  have  many  beaux  at  the 
Marsh.     Adieu.     I  must  get  the  candles. 

"Mrs.  Quince  has  given  up  her  house  to  the  General  and 
she  stays  with  our  uncles."     *     *     * 

The  place  at  which  the  Light  Horse  met  General  Washing- 


154  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

ton  was  at  the  Kouse  House,  about  fifteen  miles  out  on  the 
New  Bern  Koad.  Here  was  fought  during  the  Eevolutionary 
War,  a  small  battle  between  the  Patriots  and  the  English 
forces  under  the  command  of  Major  Craig.  It  is  described 
as  a  massacre  by  the  historian  Caruthers,  for  Craig  gave  no 
quarter  and  killed  every  one  of  the  Patriots,  who  were  over- 
whelmed by  numbers,  save  one  boy,  who  escaped. 

It  is  a  tradition  handed  down  by  the  old  folks  that  upon 
the  occasion  of  General  Washington's  visit  to  the  residence  of 
General  Smith,  at  his  plantation  of  Belvidere,  which  is  situ- 
ated across  the  river  in  Brunswick  County,  he  was  met  at  the 
river  landing  by  a  group  of  thirteen  young  ladies,  all  dressed 
in  white  and  representing  the  thirteen  colonies,  who  pre- 
ceded him  up  the  avenue  of  old  trees  leading  from  the  river 
to  the  brick  residence,  bestrewing  his  path  with  flowers  as 
he  approached. 

The  ball  which  was  given  to  him  by  the  people  of  Wil- 
mington was  held  in  what  was  then  known  as  the  Assembly 
Hall,  also  called  "Old  '76,"  because  of  having  been  built  in 
17Y6.  In  time  it  was  used  as  a  sailor  boarding-house,  and 
was  subsequently  taken  down  in  1876  to  make  way  for  the 
present  building.  It  stood  on  Front  Street,  east  side,  be- 
tween Orange  and  Ann  Streets,  where  now  stands  a  two- 
story  brick  tenement  honse. 

"Wilmington,"  wrote  President  Washington  in  his  diary, 
"has  some  good  houses,  pretty  compactly  built — the  whole 
under  a  hill,  which  is  formed  entirely  of  sand.  The  number 
of  souls  in  it  amount  by  enumeration  to  about  1,000. 

"Wilmington,  unfortunately  for  it,  has  a  mud  bank — 
miles  below,  over  which  not  more  than  ten  feet  of  water  can 
be  brought  at  common  tides.  Yet  it  is  said  vessels  of  250 
tons  have  come  up.  The  quantity  of  shipping  which  load 
here  annually  amounts  to  about  12,000  tons.  Exports  are 
Naval  stores  and  lumber;  some  tobacco,  corn,  rice,  and  flax 
seed  and  pork." 

"Monday  25th.  Dined  with  the  citizens  of  the  place — 
went  to  a  Ball  in  the  evening  at  which  there  were  62  ladies — 
illuminations,  bonfires  &&." 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  155 

James  Monroe,  the  fifth  President  of  the  United  States, 
visited  Wilmington  on  the  12th  day  of  April,  1819. 

In  an  old  copy  of  the  Raleigh  Minerva,  bearing  date  April 
23,  1819,  we  find  a  letter  from  Wilmington,  giving  an  account 
of  the  visit  of  President  Monroe  and  his  suite. 

"The  Presidential  cortege  was  met  about  twelve  miles  from 
town,  on  the  old  ISTewbern  Eoad,  somewhere  near  Scott's  Hill, 
and  escorted  into  the  City  by  the  Wilmington  Light  Horse, 
a  volunteer  organization,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Cowan.  The  entrance  into  the  town  was  made  on  Market 
Street,  the  boundary  then  being  on  Pifth.  They  then  pro- 
ceeded down  Market  to  Front  and  up  Front  to  the  Wilming- 
ton Hotel,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  Purcell 
House  buildings,  where  the  usual  formalities  of  a  grand  re- 
ception were  tendered  to  the  President. 

"His  Excellency  was  the  guest,  while  here,  of  Robert 
Cochran,  Esq.,  who  resided  on  Second  Street,  between  Chest- 
nut and  Mulberry,  and  John  C.  Calhoun,  the  Secretary  of 
War,  and  his  lady,  received  the  hospitalities  of  Dr.  A.  J. 
DeEosset,  sr.,  at  the  brick  house  now  standing  on  the  corner 
of  Market  and  Third  Streets.  It  was  on  Thursday  that  the 
President  arrived  here,  and  on  Friday,  accompanied  by 
Judge  Murphey,  he  paid  a  visit  to  Wrightsville.  On  his  re- 
turn, he  partook  of  a  dinner  with  the  citizens  at  the  Wilming- 
ton Hotel  and  the  next  day  left  this  place  on  the  steamer 
Prometheus  for  Fort  Johnston,  from  whence  he  proceeded 
immediately  to  Georgetown,  S.  C." 

At  the  dinner  given  in  his  honor,  Hanson  Kelley,  Esq., 
presided,  assisted  by  Robert  Cochran,  Esq.  The  former  was 
Magistrate  of  Police  (now  the  ofiice  of  Mayor),  and  the 
latter  was  the  Collector  of  Customs  for  the  District  of  Cape 
Fear.  There  were  a  number  of  patriotic  toasts  drunk,  the 
list  being  published  in  the  papers  of  the  day,  and  among 
those  who  responded  were  the  President,  Hon.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn, J.  R.  London,  Esq.,  Gen.  James  Owen,  Judge  Archi- 
bald Murphey,  Col.  Cleary,  Robt.  Cochran,  Esq.,  John  D. 
Jones,  Esq.,  Gen.  Thos.  Davis,  Wm.  B.  Meares,  Esq.  and 


156  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Alfred  Moore,  Esq.,  all  prominent  citizens  of  tlie  Cape  Fear 
in  that  day  and  time. 

In  a  formal  letter  addressed  to  the  President  by  Hanson 
Kelley,  Esq.,  on  behalf  of  the  citizens,  occurs  this  sentiment : 
"Events,  the  most  propitious,  have  rendered  your  adminis- 
tration an  epoch  of  national  security  and  aggrandizement. 
The  united  voice  of  your  country,  from  Maine  to  Mexico, 
proclaim  the  wisdom  of  councils  honorable  to  you ;  and,  in 
their  result,  glorious  to  our  extended  empire."  To  this  let- 
ter, the  President  responded,  as  follows : 

Sir:  On  the  principle  on  which  I  have  thought  it  proper  to  visit 
our  Atlantic  frontier,  this  town,  with  its  relation  to  the  ocean,  had 
a  just  claim  to  attention.  It  was  always  my  intention  to  visit  it 
when  I  should  be  able  to  examine  the  Southern  coast;  and  I  am 
much  gratified  in  having  done  it,  as,  in  addition  to  the  satisfaction 
of  having  performed  an  interesting  part  of  my  public  duty,  it  has 
afforded  me  an  opportunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  a  portion 
of  my  fellow-citizens,  whose  kind  reception  and  obliging  attention 
I  shall  always  recollect  with  great  interest.  To  secure  you  in  peace, 
and  all  the  advantages  in  commerce  which  a  kind  Providence  has 
enabled  you  to  enjoy,  and  all  the  protection  in  war,  to  which  your 
situation  may  expose  you,  are  objects  which  will  never  fail  to  receive 
the  unwearied  attention  of  the  General  Government  in  all  its 
branches,  according  to  their  respective  powers.  On  my  exertions,  in 
those  concerns  which  fall  within  the  department  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  fill,  you  may  confidently  rely.  In  the  late  event  to  which 
you  allude,  I  concur  in  all  the  favorable  anticipations  which  you 
have  suggested  of  its  happy  effects  on  the  best  interests  of  our 
country.  In  contemplating  this  epoch  we  must  all  derive  peculiar 
satisfaction  from  the  reflection  that  it  was  the  result  of  an  arrange- 
ment by  which  our  differences  were  settled  with  a  friendly  power, 
and  our  peace  secured  against  the  prospect  of  early  interruption,  on 
conditions  equally  honorable  to  both  parties. 

Should  I  be  able  by  my  future  conduct  in  the  public  service  to 
carry  with  me  into  retirement  the  same  favorable  opinion  of  my 
fellow-citizens  which  you  have  kindly  expressed  of  the  past,  it  will 
afford  me  the  high  consolation  to  which  I  have  invariably  aspired. 

James  Moxboe. 

James  K.  Polk,  the  eleventh  President  of  the  United 
States,  just  after  his  retirement,  visited  Wilmington,  upon 
invitation  of  its  citizens.  The  files  of  the  newspapers  pub- 
lished here  at  the  time,  which  will  be  found  in  the  Public 
Library,  contain  reports  of  his  reception.     From  the  Com- 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  157 

mercial,  issue  of  Thursday,  March  8,  1849,  we  clip  this  men- 
tion of  his  visit: 

'The  ex-President,  Mr.  Polk,  and  Lady  and  Niece,  to 
gether  with  Mr.  Secretary  Walker  and  Niece,  and  Mr.  Gra- 
hame.  Solicitor  of  the  Treasury,  and  Lady,  reached  our  town 
at  10  o'clock  yesterday  morning.  Their  arrival  was  her- 
alded by  the  booming  of  cannon,  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the 
floating  aloft  of  banners  and  streamers  from  stalls,  house- 
tops, and  mastheads.  The  Magistrate  of  Police,  Col.  James 
T.  Miller,  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  and  a  large  con- 
course of  citizens  were  ready  at  the  railroad  to  receive  the 
ex-President  and  suite,  and  they  were  greeted  by  Colonel 
Miller  in  a  brief  and  cordial  address,  to  which  the  ex-Presi- 
dent warmly  responded.  The  whole  suite  was  then  escorted, 
according  to  the  program  heretofore  published,  to  Mrs. 
Swann's  boarding-house,  on  the  balcony  of  which,  in  view  and 
hearing  of  the  assembled  crowd,  Mr.  Wm.  Hill  welcomed 
the  ex-President  and  suite  in  a  cordial,  chaste,  and  eloquent 
address ;  during  which  he  alluded  to  the  birth  and  education 
of  the  ex-President  in  North  Carolina,  and  to  many  of  the 
leading  measures  of  his  administration.  Mr.  Polk's  re- 
sponse was  feeling  and  patriotic.  He  fondly  acknowledged 
his  attachment  to  North  Carolina,  and  the  gratification  which 
it  gave  him  to  receive  from  the  archives,  and  to  transmit  to 
our  State  Executive,  the  recorded  evidence  of  the  early  dis- 
loyalty and  independent  resolves  of  different  portions  of 
North  Carolina.  He  spoke  of  the  inestimable  value  of  our 
Union,  and  of  the  bright  destiny  in  store  for  our  country, 
provided  we  shall  adhere  to  this  glorious  Union,  and  the 
teachings  of  the  Father  of  the  Eepublic.  When  he  had 
closed,  General  Marsteller  announced  to  the  crowd  that  at  12 
o'clock  Mr.  Polk  and  suite  would  be  happy  to  see  their  fellow- 
citizens  at  the  Masonic  Hall.  And,  accordingly,  at  that 
hour,  hundreds  repaired  thither  and  offered  their  salutations 
to  our  distinguished  guests." 

Millard  Fillmoee,  the  thirteenth  President  of  the  United 
States,  after  his  retirement,  visited  Wilmington,  on  the  12th 


158  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

day  of  May,  1854.  He  had  contemplated  a  tour  of  the 
South  in  1853,  and  on  March  10th,  1853,  the  citizens  of  the 
town  met  and  passed  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  twenty-four  persons,  and  the  Mag- 
istrate of  Police,  be  appointed  to  correspond  with  Millard  Fillmore, 
late  President  of  the  United  States,  and  such  of  the  members  of  his 
late  cabinet  as  may  accompany  him  on  his  projected  visit  to  the 
South,  and  tender  to  him  and  to  them  the  hospitalities  of  our  town. 

Under  this  Resolution,  the  following  gentlemen  were  ap- 
pointed: T.  Burr,  jr.,  H.  L.  Holmes,  Wm.  A.  Wright, 
Wm.  C.  Bettencourt,  R.  C.  Cowan,  R.  H.  Berry,  Geo.  Davis, 
S.  J.  Person,  Jas.  S.  Green,  Jno.  Walker,  Jno.  MacRae,  R. 
Strange,  jr.,  J.  G.  Wright,  Gaston  Meares,  E.  Kidder,  S.  D. 
Wallace,  A.  A.  Brown,  E.  W.  Hall,  D.  Dupre,  M.  Costen, 
J.  J.  Lippitt,  P.  M.  Walker,  0.  P.  Meares,  and  J.  E.  Miller. 

A  sub-committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Jas.  L.  Green, 
John  L.  Meares,  S.  J.  Person,  and  A.  Empie,  jr.,  were 
appointed  to  go  to  Richmond,  and  tender  the  hospitalities  of 
the  town  to  the  President,  who  was  supposed  to  be  on  a  visit 
there  at  the  time,  and  to  his  suite.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Fill- 
more caused  the  postponement  of  the  ex-President's  tour  in 
the  South  that  year,  but  in  1854  he  fulfilled  his  desire  to 
make  such  a  tour,  with  the  assurance  to  the  public  that  he 
"earnestly  wished  to  avoid  the  pomp  and  pageantry  of  a 
public  reception."  In  the  Daily  Journal,  issue  of  Friday, 
May  12th,  1854,  the  files  of  which  are  in  the  local  library, 
is  an  account  of  the  ex-President's  visit,  as  follows : 

"Ex-President  Fillmore,  of  New  York,  and  Mr.  Kennedy, 
of  Maryland,  Secretary  of  the  ISTavy  under  his  administra- 
tion, arrived  here  this  morning  on  the  Manchester  cars  from 
Columbia.  A  very  large  number  of  our  citizens  of  both 
parties  have  called  upon  our  distinguished  visitors  at  their 
rooms  at  Mr.  Holmes's  Hotel  [now  a  store,  S.  E.  corner 
Market  and  Front  Streets].  Owing  to  the  illness  of  Mrs. 
Kennedy,  they  are  anxious  to  reach  Baltimore  at  the  earliest 
possible  moment,  and  are  thus  compelled  to  leave  for  the 
!N'orth  by  the  2  o'clock  train.     In  accordance  with  the  earnest 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  159 

wish  of  the  people,  Mr.  Fillmore  had  designed  to  make  a 
short  address  from  the  balcony  of  the  Hotel  at  11  o'clock, 
but,  in  consequence  of  the  rain,  his  intention  could  not  be 
carried  out.  We  are  pleased  to  see  both  gentlemen  appa- 
rently in  the  enjoyment  of  high  health  and  spirits.  Mr. 
Fillmore  is  certainly  a  gentleman  of  exceedingly  prepos- 
sessing appearance  and  manners;  and  bears  little  evidence 
of  the  cares  of  state  having  pressed  heavily  upon  him." 


THE  VISIT  OF  HENRY  CLAY. 

The  happy  occasion  of  a  visit  by  Henry  Clay  to  Wilming- 
ton while  he  was  canvassing  the  South  during  his  presidential 
campaign  in  1844,  is  described  by  the  Wihnington  Clironicle 
as  follows : 

April  3,  1844. 

"The  Committee  of  Arrangement  for  the  reception  and 
entertainment  of  our  distinguished  fellow  citizen,  Henry 
Clay,  who  in  compliance  with  the  invitation  of  the  citizens 
of  this  town  is  expected  to  visit  us  on  Tuesday,  the  9th  of 
April,  1844,  have  adopted  the  following  measures." 

(Here  follows  an  elaborate  programme.) 

''The  following  gentlemen  are  appointed  marshals  of  the 
day,  viz:  O.  G.  Parsley,  Thos.  W.  Brown,  G.  B.  Alsaps, 
Jas.  Anderson,  Geo.  W.  Davis,  Jas.  F.  McRee,  jr.,  John  L. 
Meares,  N"athaniel  Hill. 

"The  following  gentlemen  compose  the  accompanying  com- 
mittee to  wait  on  Mr.  Clay  from  Charleston,  viz:  James 
Owen,  John  MacEae,  Dr.  Thos.  H.  Wright,  Gen.  Alex.  Mac- 
Eae,  Gilbert  Potter,  F.  C.  Hill,  Asa  A.  Brown,  Wm.  A. 
Wright,  A.  J.  DeRosset,  jr.,  George  Davis,  R.  G.  Rankin, 
Porter  Strode,  Thos.  Sanford. 

"The  following  gentlemen  have  been  appointed  to  act  as 
managers  of  the  ball:  R.  W.  Brown,  Edward  B.  Dudley, 
P.  K  Dickinson,  Jas.  S.  Green,  G.  J.  McRee,  M.  London, 
Jas.  H.  Dickson,  Thos.  D.  Meares,  Jno.  Hall,  and  Kath'l 
Hill." 


160  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Me.  Clay  in  Wilmington. 

April  10th,  1844. 

"The  publication  of  the  Chronicle  has  been  delayed  a  day 
to  enable  us  to  give  some  account  of  the  reception  and  en- 
tertainment of  Mr.  Clay  in  Wilmington,  where  he  arrived 
yesterday  morning. 

"On  Tuesday  afternoon  between  three  and  four  o'clock, 
the  Committee  of  thirteen  deputed  by  the  Clay  Club  to  wait 
upon  Mr.  Clay  at  Charleston  and  escort  him  to.  this  town,  re- 
ceived him  on  board  the  fine  steamer  Gladiator^  Captain 
Smith.  The  steamer  had  quite  a  pleasant  night  for  the 
run,  and  reached  Smithville  about  sunrise.  Mr.  Clay  was 
there  welcomed  to  the  State  by  the  Committee  of  ten,  con- 
sisting of  the  Chairman  of  the  Whig  Central  Committee  and 
one  gentleman  from  each  of  the  nine  Congressional  Districts. 
After  an  hour's  delay  at  Smithville,  the  steamer  was  again 
in  motion,  and  reached  here  at  the  time  named  above.  From 
a  point  three  or  four  miles  below  town  until  the  boat  touched 
the  wharf  a  piece  of  ordnance  on  board  was  fired  at  regular 
intervals  and  the  reports  were  answered  from  numerous  other 
pieces  of  artillery,  stationed  at  various  places  along  the  river. 
The  steamer  came  to  on  the  south  side  of  Market  Street 
dock.  Here  an  immense  throng  had  gathered  to  greet  the 
distinguished  man,  and  as  soon  as  the  boat  touched  the  wharf 
there  were  repeated  bursts  of  the  people's  welcome.  Mr. 
Clay  was  then  introduced  to.  the  Committee  of  Arrangements, 
and,  a  procession  having  formed  in  the  prescribed  order,  he 
was  escorted  to  his  private  lodgings  at  the  residence  of  Mrs. 
Joseph  A.  Hill,  southeast  corner  of  Front  and  Dock  Streets. 

"At  11  o'clock  Mr.  Clay,  accompanied  by  the  Clay  Club, 
committees,  and  citizens,  repaired  to  the  new  and  commodi- 
ous mansion  of  Capt.  Samuel  Potter,  on  Market  Street.  Here, 
upon  the  balcony  of  the  house  facing  Market  Street  he  was 
addressed  in  a  most  appropriate  manner  by  ex-Governor 
Dudley,  the  president  of  the  Clay  Club.  The  address  re- 
ferred to  the  long  and  arduous  public  services  of  Mr.  Clay, 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  161 

the  great  debt  of  gratitude  the  country  justly  owes  him,  the 
strong  interest  and  regard  the  people  throughout  the  Union 
have  manifested  for  him  on  numerous  occasions,  the  warm 
affection  entertained  for  him  by  so  large  a  portion  of  the 
citizens  of  North  Carolina,  and  appealed  to  the  multitude 
of  upturned  faces  as  furnished  evidence  that  'Welcome  to 
Henry  Clay'  were  the  words  then  gushing  spontaneously  from 
the  hearts  of  thousands.  Mr.  Clay  made  only  a  short  reply, 
not  exceeding  twenty  minutes  in  length. 

"He  said  he  had  long  looked  forward  to  this  visit  to  ITorth 
Carolina  (which  he  had  promised  to  make  when  a  fitting 
opportunity  should  occur)  with  a  pleasing  hope,  and  now 
having  set  foot  upon  her  soil  for  the  first  time  to-day,  his 
fondest  anticipations  were  in  a  course  of  being  realized,  and 
the  event  would  form  an  epoch  in  his  life.  He  had  for  many 
years  wished  to  visit  the  State,  and  the  repeated  invitations 
formed  motives  of  still  weightier  influence. 

"He  utterly  disclaimed  all  electioneering  designs  or  selfish 
purposes  pertaining  to  his  journey.  He  was  traveling  on 
business  and  to  enjoy  the  hospitalities  of  his  friends;  the 
people  had  tendered  him  unexpected  civilities,  which  he 
could  not  without  rudeness  decline.  He  had  also  been 
brought  out  on  political  topics,  and  had  not  hesitated  to  de- 
clare his  sentiments,  as  became  an  American  citizen. 

"He  glanced  at  the  two  principal  parties  of  the  country, 
expressing  his  convictions  that  both  of  them  are  in  the  main 
governed  by  honest  views.  Men,  he  said,  should  act  with 
that  party  in  whose  principles  they  found  the  least  to  con- 
demn, after  having  given  them  a  thorough  examination. 
ISTone  could  expect  to  find  in  any  party  everything  exactly  as 
they  would  have  it,  small  defects  must  be  overlooked,  as  are 
those  which  a  man  discovers,  perchance,  in  the  woman  of  his 
admiration.  He  had  attached  himself  to  the  Whig  party  as 
the  result  of  his  investigations  of  the  great  principles  of  its 
existence.  But  every  man,  he  said,  should  hold  party  fealty 
as  subordinate  to  that  due  his  country.  Properly,  parties 
were  but  instruments  for  promoting  our  country's  good. 


162  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"Mr.  Clay  excused  himself  for  the  briefness  of  his  dis- 
course by  reference  to  the  fatiguing  circumstances  of  his 
journey  thus  far. 

"The  view  below  and  around  the  place  where  Mr.  Clay 
stood  was  striking  beyond  any  effort  of  ours  to  portray.  The 
wide  street,  for  a  considerable  distance  on  either  hand,  was 
one  dense  mass  of  human  beings,  whilst  the  balconies,  win- 
dows, etc.,  were  crowded  with  ladies,  all  eager  listeners  to 
the  words  of  the  great  statesman  of  the  West.  Never  was 
such  a  scene,  or  anything  approaching  to  it,  witnessed  in  Wil- 
mington. 

"His  speech  ended,  Mr.  Clay  entered  the  reception  room, 
and  was  then  introduced  to  a  rushing  tide  of  people,  made  up 
of  both  sexes  and  all  ages  and  conditions.  He  remained  in 
the  reception  rooms  until  one  o'clock  and  then  retired  to  his 
lodgings. 

"At  two  o'clock  a  most  bountiful  collation,  prepared  by  Mr. 
Keith,  was  spread  out  on  tables  in  the  open  space  south  of 
Mr.  John  Walker's  house  on  Princess  Street,  to  which  a 
general  invitation  had  been  given,  and  of  which  hundreds 
partook.  Mr.  Clay  was  not  present,  desiring  to  have  a  few 
hours  rest.  The  company  was,  however,  highly  gratified 
with  able  and  instructive  speeches  from  Hon.  A.  H.  Stephens, 
Member  of  Congress  from  Georgia,  who  being  on  his  way  to 
Washington  was  induced  to  remain  over  a  day ;  Col.  Wm.  W. 
Cherry,  of  Bertie,  an  orator  of  surpassing  eloquence ;  Col.  B. 
r.  Gaither,  of  Burke,  and  others.  Mr.  Stephens  well  sus- 
tained the  reputation  which  had  preceded  him  of  an  elo- 
quent, humorous,  and  effective  speaker. 

"At  night  there  was  a  superb  ball  and  party  at  the  Carolina 
Hotel  and  Masonic  Hall, — all  the  rooms  being  connected  for 
the  occasion.  The  whole  affair  was  got  up  under  the  superin- 
tendency  of  ladies  of  Wilmington.  It  could  not,  therefore, 
but  be  an  elegant  one.  The  rooms  were  beautifully  dec- 
orated, the  refreshments  choice,  the  supper  in  refined  taste 
and  order,  the  music  inspiring,  and  a  hilarious  spirit  reigned 
throughout  the  well-filled  apartments.     How  many  hours  of 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  163 

the  morning  heard  the  festive  strains  we  do  not  exactly  know 
and  will  not  hazard  a  conjecture.  In  the  course  of  the  even- 
ing Mr.  Clay  visited  the  place  of  gaiety  and  remained  a 
couple  of  hours  or  so. 

"Between  seven  and  eight  this  morning  Mr.  Clay  took  his 
departure  for  Ealeigh,  by  way  of  the  railroad,  cheered  by 
many,  many,  newly  awakened  and  newly  born  wishes  for  his 
welfare. 

"We  have  thus  sketched  a  meagre  outline  of  Mr.  Clay's 
visit  to  Wilmington.  The  glowing  lines  of  the  picture  the 
reader's  imagination  must  supply.  The  enthusiasm,  the 
kindly  feeling,  the  generous  good  will,  all  these  are  to  be  sup- 
posed, for  they  were  all  exhibited  in  an  eminent  degree. 

"There  was  a  very  gi-eat  concourse  of  strangers  in  town, 
from  this  and  the  neighboring  counties,  Fayetteville,  and 
other  parts  of  the  State,  who  aided  us  in  doing  honor  to  our 
venerable  and  beloved  guest." 


THE  VISIT  OF  DANIEL  WEBSTER. 

Early  in  May,  1847,  Daniel  Webster  visited  Wilmington 
as  the  guest  of  Governor  Edward  B.  Dudley.  In  an  old  book 
containing  the  private  correspondence  of  Mr.  Webster  I  found 
a  letter  by  him  dated  Wilmington,  May  6,  184Y,  as  follows : 

"At  one  o'clock  yesterday,  ten  miles  from  this  city,  we 
met  a  special  train,  with  a  large  deputation,  headed  by  ex- 
Governor  Dudley.  The  weather  was  bad,  and  the  wind  east, 
and  I  was  rather  easily  persuaded  to  stay  over  a  day.  The 
Governor  brought  us  to  his  own  home,  where  we  were  grandly 
lodged.  I  go  to  the  hotel  to  meet  the  citizens  at  11  o'clock, 
and  go  off  at  half-past  two  this  p.  m.,  if  the  wind  goes  down. 
At  present  it  blows  rather  hard.  This  is  an  active  little  city, 
built  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  on  sand  hills.  The  good 
people  are  Whigs,  but  out  of  the  city,  and  all  round  for  fifty 
miles,  it  is  a  region  whose  politics  are  personified  by  Mr. 
McKay. 

12 


164  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"There  is  a  thing,  Harry,  which  thou  hast  often  heard  of, 
and  it  is  known  to  many  in  this  land  hy  the  name  of  pitch, 
etc.,  etc.  We  are  here  in  the  midst  of  this  very  thing,  at  the 
very  center  of  the  tar  and  turpentine  region.  The  pines  are 
long-leaved  pines.  In  one  of  these,  a  foot  from  the  bottom, 
a  notch  is  cut,  and  its  capacity  enlarged  and  its  shape  fash- 
ioned a  little,  so  as  to  hold  the  liquid,  by  chiseling,  and  then 
it  is  called  the  'box.'  Above  the  box  the  bark  is  cut  off,  for  a 
foot  or  so,  and  the  turpentine  oozes  out  of  the  tree  on  to  this 
smooth  surface,  and  then  runs  slowly  into  the  box.  The  box 
holds  about  a  quart.  In  a  good  large  tree  it  will  fill  five 
times  a  season.  Sometimes  there  are  two  boxes  in  one  tree, 
so  that  some  trees  will  yield  ten  quarts  a  year.  But  the 
greatest  yield  is  the  first  year ;  after  that  it  is  gradually  dimin- 
ished, and  in  seven  or  eight  years  the  tree  dies,  or  will  yield 
no  more  turpentine.  Tar  is  made  by  bringing  together  wood 
full  of  turpentine,  either  trees  or  knots,  and  pieces  picked  up 
in  the  woods,  and  burning  it  in  a  pit,  just  as  charcoal  is  made, 
then  running  it  off  into  a  hole  prepared  for  it  in  the  ground. 
At  the  present  price  of  the  article,  this  is  said  to  be  the  best 
business  now  doing  in  the  State.  I  am  told  good,  fresh,  well- 
timbered  pine  lands  can  be  bought  for  $1.25  to  $1.50  per 
acre. 

"One  barrel  of  turpentine  distilled  makes  six  gallons  of 
spirits.  The  residuum,  or  resin,  is  not  of  much  value,  say 
twenty-five  cents  a  barrel.  Tar  and  turpentine  are  now  high, 
and  the  business  good." 

The  late  Col.  Thomas  C.  Mcllhenny,  always  a  welcome 
guest  of  Governor  Dudley,  often  entertained  me  by  the  recital 
of  important  local  events  of  his  earlier  years,  and  upon  one 
occasion  described  the  visit  of  the  great  Commoner  while  he 
was  also  a  guest  at  the  Governor's  mansion.  The  Colonel  said 
he  was  much  impressed  by  the  great  size  of  Mr.  Webster's 
head  and  the  powerful  penetration  of  his  searching  eyes, 
and  by  his  fancy  for  the  Governor's  madeira,  of  which  he 
kept  a  pipe  of  superior  quality.  After  drinking  all  of  the 
dining  room  supply,  Mrs.  Dudley  having  withdrawn,  Mr. 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  165 

Webster  laid  an  affectionate  hand  upon  the  Colonel's  shoulder 
and  said :  "Young  man,  show  me  where  the  Governor  keeps 
that  wine,"  and  being  led  to  the  cellar  he  greatly  reduced  the 
contents  of  the  cask  with  much  enjoyment,  but  apparently  not 
altogether  with  satisfaction,  because  he  seldom  knew  when 
he  had  enough. 

With  reference  to  Mr.  Webster's  visit  to  Wilmington,  the 
following  from  the  local  newspaper,  the  Commercial^  of 
Thursday  morning,  May  6,  1847,  is  quoted: 

"Hoist.  Daniel  Webster. 

"The  Hon.  Daniel  Webster  and  family  arrived  at  this 
place  yesterday  in  the  cars  at  a  little  before  2  o'clock. 

"Col.  John  McEae,  magistrate  of  Police,  appointed  the 
following  gentlemen  as  a  committee  to  meet  our  distinguished 
guest,  and  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  to  entertain 
him  while  here : 

"Governor  Dudley,  John  D.  Jones,  L.  H.  Marsteller,  Alex- 
ander McKae,  Dr.  W.  A.  Berry,  Jas.  T.  Miller,  Dr.  F.  J. 
Hill,  R.  W.  Brown,  Sam'l  Potter,  Dr.  J.  H.  Dickson,  Gil- 
bert Potter,  John  Walker,  C.  D.  Ellis,  Thos.  Loring,  A.  A. 
Brown,  D.  Fulton,  R.  B.  Wood,  J.  Ballard,  H.  W.  Beatty, 
J.  Hathaway,  H.  R.  Savage,  W.  C.  Bettencourt,  Dr.  T.  H. 
Wright,  Thos.  D.  Meares,  John  A.  Taylor,  James  S.  Green, 
W.  N.  Peden,  Owen  Fennel,  Miles  Costin,  Alfred  Bryant, 
Dr.  J.  D.  Bellamy,  Sam'l  Black,  Henry  N'utt,  P.  K.  Dickin- 
son. 

"A  number  of  the  committee  started  in  an  extra  train  at 
about  eleven  o'clock  and  met  the  regular  train  at  Rocky  Point 
depot,  where  they  entered  the  mail  train,  and  through  Gov- 
ernor Dudley  proffered  the  hospitalities  of  our  town  to  Mr. 
Webster  and  his  family.  On  arriving  at  the  depot,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  the  residence  of  Governor  Dudley  on  the  southwest 
corner  of  Front  and  N'unn  Streets. 

"Mr.  Webster  will  leave  in  the  boat  today  for  Charleston. 

"At  the  request  of  the  committee,  appointed  by  the  magis- 


166  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

trate  of  Police,  Mr.  Webster  will  meet  the  citizens  of  Wil- 
mington at  the  Masonic  Hall  this  morning  at  eleven  o'clock." 

The  same  paper,  of  May  8,  1847,  contained  the  following: 

"Me.  Webstee. 

"This  gentleman  left  our  place  in  the  boat  for  Charleston 
on  Thursday  evening.  The  arrangements  indicated  in  our 
last  were  carried  out  by  the  committee.  At  the  Masonic  Hall 
Mr.  Webster  made  a  short  address  to  the  many  citizens  who 
had  assembled  to  pay  their  respects  to  him.  We  believe  men 
of  all  parties  were  very  much  gratified  on  the  occasion." 

Mention  was  also  made  to  me  of  Mr.  Webster's  apprecia- 
tion of  the  excellent  cooking  in  the  South,  and  of  his  prefer- 
ence for  a  dish  of  tripe,  which  leads  me  to  copy  a  later  letter 
on  this  subject  written  in  December,  1850,  and  addressed  to 
his  hostess  at  Richmond,  Mrs.  Paige. 

Dear  Mrs.  Paige: — I  sit  down  to  write  a  letter,  partly  diplomatic 
and  partly  historical.  The  subject  is  Tripe — T-R-I-P-E.  Your  hus- 
band remembers  Mrs.  Hayman,  who  was  Mrs.  Blake's  cook.  Ex- 
celling others  in  all  else,  she  excelled  herself  in  a  dish  of  tripe.  I 
do  not  know  that  her  general  genius  exceeded  that  of  Monica 
McCarty;  but  in  this  production  she  was  more  exact,  more  artisti- 
cal;  she  gave  to  the  article,  not  only  a  certain  gout,  which  gratified 
the  most  fastidious,  but  an  expression,  also,  an  air  of  haut  ton,  as  It 
lay  presented  on  the  table,  that  assured  one  that  he  saw  before  him 
something  from  the  hand  of  a  master. 

Tradition,  it  is  said,  occasionally  hands  down  the  practical  arts 
with  more  precision  and  fidelity  than  they  can  be  transmitted  by 
books,  from  generation  to  generation;  and  I  have  thought  it  likely 
that  your  Lydia  may  have  caught  the  tact  of  preparing  this  inimi- 
table dish.  I  entertain  this  opinion  on  two  grounds:  first,  because  I 
have  been  acquainted  with  very  respectable  efforts  of  hers  in  that 
line;  second,  because  she  knows  Mr.  Paige's  admirable  connoisseur- 
ship,  and  can  determine,  by  her  quick  eye,  when  the  dish  comes 
down  from  the  table,  whether  the  contents  have  met  his  approbation. 

For  these  reasons,  and  others,  upon  which  it  is  not  necessary  for 
the  undersigned  to  enlarge,  he  is  desirous  of  obtaining  Lydia's 
receipt  for  a  dish  of  tripe,  for  the  dinner-table.  Mrs.  Hayman's  is 
before  my  eyes.  Unscathed  by  the  frying  pan,  it  was  white  as 
snow;  it  was  disposed  in  squares,  or  in  parallelograms,  of  the  size  of 
a  small  sheet  of  ladies'  note  paper;   it  was  tender  as  jelly;  beside 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  167 

it  stood  the  tureen  of  melted  butter,  a  dish  of  mealy  potatoes,  and 
the  vinegar   cruet.     Can   this   spectacle   be   exhibited   in   the   Vine 
Cottage,  on  Louisiana  Avenue,  in  the  City  of  Washington? 
Yours  truly,  always, 

Dan'l  Webster. 

P.  S. — Tripe;  the  etymon  is  the  Greek  word  to  "turn,  to  wind," 
from  its  involutions,  not  the  same  as  "tripod,"  which  means  "having 
three  feet";  nor  the  same  as  "trip,"  which  is  from  the  Latin  tripu- 
diare,  to  strike  the  feet  upon  the  ground;  sometimes  to  stumble; 
sometimes  to  go  nimbly;  to  "trip  it  on  the  light  fantastic  toe." 

Washington,  29  December,  1850. 


THE  VISIT  OF  EDWAED  EVERETT. 

In  1859  the  renowned  Edward  Everett  delivered  in  hun- 
dreds of  cities  throughout  the  United  States  his  splendid 
address  on  the  Character  of  "Washington,  the  receipts  being 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Ladies  of  the  Mount  Vernon  Association. 

Of  his  visit  to  Wilmington  on  that  occasion  he  wrote  in 
his  Mount  Vernon  Papers :  "Its  population,  as  far  as  I  could 
judge  from  a  short  visit,  is  intelligent,  enterprising,  and 
rather  more  than  usually  harmonious  among  themselves.  The 
river  prospects  from  elevated  positions  are  remarkably  fine. 
An  immense  audience,  assembled  in  Thalian  Hall  on  the  11th 
of  April  last,  honored  the  repetition  of  my  address  on  the 
Character  of  Washington,  and  the  net  receipts  of  the  even- 
ing, $1,091.80,  were,  in  proportion  to  population,  far  beyond 
those  of  any  other  place  in  the  Union." 

Mr.  Everett  has  also  been  quoted  as  saying  that  at  Wil- 
mington alone,  during  his  travels,  he  was  introduced  by  an 
orator  who  surpassed  himself,  Mr.  Greorge  Davis. 

We  copy  an  interesting  account  of  Mr.  Everett's  oration 
in  Wilmington  from  the  Daily  Journal  of  that  date. 

April  12,  1859. 

"Mb.  Eveeett''s  Okation. 

"Last  evening  Thalian  Hall  was  filled  by  an  attentive 
audience,  eager  to  listen  to  the  Washington  oration  of  Hon. 
Edward  Everett,  of  Massachusetts. 


168  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"At  8  o'clock  Mr.  Everett,  accompanied  by  a  committee  of 
citizens,  appeared  upon  the  stage  and  was  introduced  to  the 
audience  by  George  Davis,  Esq.,  whose  eloquent  though  brief 
remarks  formed  a  fitting  prelude  to  the  splendid  composition 
of  the  distinguished  speaker. 

"Mr.  Everett  is,  we  believe,  65  years  of  age,  tall,  rather 
portly  than  otherwise,  his  hair,  trimmed  short,  is  nearly 
white,  and  we  learn  from  those  who  have  heard  him  before 
that  either  advancing  years  or  illness  have  considerably  sub- 
dued the  vigor  of  his  tones  and  the  energy  of  his  delivery. 
His  features,  those  of  a  cultivated  gentleman,  have  been  or 
will  be  made  familiar  to  most  through  the  portraits  of  him 
which  have  been  published. 

"We  have  no  desire  to  attempt  any  sketch  of  Mr.  Everett's 
address  further  than  to  glance  at  a  very  few  points.  He 
spoke  of  three  eras  in  Washington's  life — when  he  fought  in 
the  old  French  War,  when  he  took  command  of  the  American 
forces,  and  when  he  retired  from  that  command.  He  spoke 
of  what  he  denominated  the  Age  of  Washington,  reviewed  the 
history  of  the  eighteenth  and  first  half  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury; enumerated  the  great  things  that  had  been  done,  and 
the  great  men  that  had  figured  within  that  space  of  time  to 
which  future  ages  would  turn  as  the  Era  of  Washington ;  con- 
trasted the  character  of  the  American  hero  and  statesman 
with  that  of  Peter  the  Great  of  Russia,  Frederick  the  Great 
of  Prussia,  or  Napoleon  the  Great  of  France. 

"From  Major  Washington's  visit  to  Venango  down  to  the 
last  stage  of  President  Washington's  life,  the  speaker  followed 
that  great  man's  career,  dwelling  with  inimitable  skill  upon 
the  great  and  good  points  of  his  character. 

"Better  still  than  his  comparison  and  contrast  of  the  char- 
acter of  Washington  with  that  of  the  great  men  of  his  own 
immediate  day,  was  the  episode  in  which  he  turned  back  to 
John,  Duke  of  Marlborough,  the  wittiest  statesman,  the  most 
astute  diplomatist,  the  greatest  captain  of  his  day,  yet  a  dis- 
honest man,  faithless  to  his  sovereign,  a  traitor  to  his  country, 
and  a  robber  of  the  brave  soldiers  whose  strong  arms  gave 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  169 

him  victory.  He  pictured  in  glowing  language  the  beauty  and 
the  grandeur  of  'Blenheim/  the  seat  which  national  grati- 
tude or  kingly  extravagance  had  given  to  the  great  bad  man, 
naming  it  after  that  'famous  victory.'  After  all,  'Blen- 
heim,' with  it  storied  urn  and  animated  bust,  its  pompous 
eulogy  and  lying  praise,  could  only  serve  to  perpetuate  the 
shame  and  infamy  of  John  Churchill.  But  away  on  the  banks 
of  the  calm  Potomac,  there  rose  an  humble  mansion,  bought 
with  no  money  wrested  from  the  hands  of  an  oppressed  and 
reluctant  people,  a  mansion  in  which  the  Father  of  his  Coun- 
try lived  quietly  and  well  Avith  his  beloved  Martha,  and  from 
which  he  passed  away  peacefully  to  the  bosom  of  his  God. 
Around  that  humble  mansion  clustered  hallowed  recollections 
unstained  by  aught  that  could  dim  their  purity.  That  home 
the  women  of  America  sought  to  secure,  that  they  might  guard 
it  as  a  sacred  trust,  restore  it  to  the  pristine  beauty  and  sim- 
plicity in  which  its  great  owner  had  left  it,  and  transmit  it 
as  a  sacred  heritage  to  their  children  forever. 

"In  the  course  of  his  oration,  Mr.  Everett  alluded  very 
feelingly  to  Washington's  last  and  most  emphatic  advice  to 
his  countrymen,  to  preserve  the  Union  of  the  States.  He 
drew  himself  a  most  painful  picture  of  the  probable  effect  of 
disunion. 

"The  audience  was  the  fullest  we  have  ever  seen  in  Wil- 
mington. We  should  think  the  receipts  will  not  vary  much 
from  a  thousand  dollars.  We  believe  all  were  pleased,  many 
delighted,  none  dissatisfied,  although  some,  perhaps,  looked 
for  a  rather  different  style  of  speaking,  more,  perhaps,  of 
what  is  generally  regarded  as  oratory,  more  stirring,  more 
declamatory.  The  address  was  highly  polished,  beautiful  in 
conception,  chaste,  yet  magnificent  in  execution,  the  work  of  a 
scholar,  a  rhetorician,  faultlessly  delivered,  too  faultlessly 
for  an  orator,  perhaps,  for  oratory  is  never  finished,  it  sug- 
gests more  than  it  directly  conveys,  its  apparent  failures  are 
sometimes  its  most  effective  points,  its  seeming,  mayhaps  its 
real  forgetfulness,  make  us,  too,  forget,  carry  us  away,  lead 
our  feelings  captive,  we  cease  to  mark  gesture  or  tone,  we 


170  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

feel  but  do  not  analyze  our  feelings.  Mr.  Everett  may  be, 
perhaps  is,  something  more  or  higher  than  an  orator,  but  he 
is  also  something  different." 


THE  RECEPTION  OF  CALHOUN'S  REMAINS. 

In  April,  1850,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  demonstrations 
in  the  history  of  Wilmington  occurred  on  the  occasion  of  the 
death  of  the  illustrious  John  C.  Calhoun.  The  following 
excerpts  from  the  local  newspapers  of  that  date  indicate  the 
profound  emotion  which  stirred  the  hearts  of  our  people : 

"Another  of  the  Master  Spirits  of  the  country  has  passed 
from  time  to  eternity.  John  C.  Calhoun  died  in  the  City  of 
Washington  on  Sunday  morning  last.  The  sad  intelligence 
of  his  death  was  to  some  extent  anticipated  from  recent  re- 
ports of  his  dangerous  sickness,  yet  it  will  strike  with  heavy 
force  upon  the  public  mind. 

"The  following  telegraphic  dispatch,  dated  Washington, 
March  31st,  we  copy  from  the  Charleston  Mercury  of  Mon- 
day :  'Mr.  Calhoun  died  this  morning  at  a  quarter  past  seven 
o'clock  in  the  full  possession  of  his  faculties.  A  few  hours 
previous  he  directed  his  son,  Dr.  John  C.  Calhoun,  to  lock 
up  his  manuscripts,  and  just  before  his  death  he  beckoned 
him  to  his  bedside  and,  with  his  eyes  fixed  upon  him,  expired. 
He  died  without  the  slightest  symptom  of  pain,  and  to  the  last 
his  eyes  retained  their  brilliancy.  With  his  son,  there  were 
at  his  bedside,  Mr.  Venable,  of  North  Carolina,  and  Messrs. 
Orr  and  Wallace,  of  South  Carolina.  Mr.  Venable  has  been 
devoted  in  his  attentions  to  him  for  weeks,  and  is  entitled  to 
the  deepest  gratitude.  The  body  will  be  placed  in  a  metallic 
coffin  and  deposited  in  the  Congressional  Burial  Ground  until 
the  wishes  of  his  family  are  ascertained. 

"  'The  Governor  of  South  Carolina  has  appointed  a  com- 
mittee of  twenty-five,  consisting  of  citizens  of  Charleston,  to 
proceed  to  Washington  to  receive  and  convey  to  his  native 
State  the  remains  of  John  C.  Calhoun.'  " 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  171 

Wilmington  Chronicle. 

Wednesday,  April  24,  1850. 
"Remains  of  Mr.  Calhoun.    It  is  expected  that  the  remains 
of  Mr.  Calhoun  will  reach  Wilmington  today  about  12  o'clock. 
The  committee  of  arrangements  publish  the  following : 
Order  of  Procession. 
For  escorting  the  remains  of  the  Hon.  J.  C.  Calhoun. 
The  procession  will  be  formed  in  the  following  order,  the  right 
resting  on  the  railroad  depot,  in  open  order,  for  the  reception  of  the 
corps  of  attendance  on  the  arrival  of  the  cars. 

Order  of  Procession. 
Clergy  of  the  various  denominations. 
Sergeant  at  Arms  and  assistants. 
Pallbearers. 

Coffin. 
Pallbearers. 
Relations  of  the  deceased. 
Committee  of  the  U.  S.  Senate. 
Committee  of  South  Carolina. 
Committee  of  Arrangements. 
Citizens  of  South  Carolina. 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  and  Superior  Courts. 
Members  of  the  Bar. 
Members  of  the  Medical  Profession. 

Magistrate  of  Police  and  Commissioners  of  the  town.  Collector  of 
Customs  and  officers  of  the  U.  S.  service,  President  and  Directors 
of  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh  R.  R.,  members  of  the  various 
societies  of  the  town,  in  citizen  dress,  teachers  of  the  schools  and 
academies,  captains  of  vessels  and  seamen,  citizens  and  strangers. 

"The  Committee  of  Arrangements  recommend  the  follow- 
ing to  their  fellow  citizens.  A  committee  of  ten,  consisting 
of  A.  J.  DeRosset,  sr.,  James  Owen,  Jas.  F.  McEee,  sr., 
Thos.  H.  Wright,  P.  K.  Dickinson,  John  Walker,  Wm.  C. 
Bettencourt,  Thos.  Loring,  F.  J.  Hill,  of  Brunswick,  and  Jas. 
Iredell,  of  Ealeigh,  will  proceed  up  the  line  of  the  Wilming- 
ton and  Ealeigh  E.  E.  to  receive  the  remains,  and  escort  them 
in  their  passage  through  the  State.  These  gentlemen  will 
also  act  as  pallbearers  in  the  procession. 

"The  citizens  generally  are  requested  to  close  their  stores, 
to  suspend  all  operations  of  business,  and  to  meet  at  the  depot 


172  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

at  12  o'clock.  There  the  procession  will  be  formed,  under 
the  direction  of  Wm.  C.  Howard  as  Chief  Marshal,  to  re- 
ceive the  remains  in  open  order  and  escort  them  to  the  foot 
of  Market  Street,  where  the  boat  for  Charleston,  the  Nina, 
will  be  waiting  to  receive  them. 

"A  gun  from  the  wharf  of  the  Wilmington  and  Raleigh 
R.  E..  Co.  will  give  the  earliest  notice  of  the  arrival  of  the 
cars.  Immediately  upon  the  firing  of  this  gun,  the  flags  of 
the  public  buildings  and  the  ships  in  port  will  be  struck  at 
half  mast ;  the  bells  of  the  town  will  commence  tolling  and 
minute  guns  will  be  fired. 

"The  clergy  and  the  pallbearers  are  requested  to  call  at 
Messrs.  Dawson's  store  for  gloves  and  crape.  The  citizens 
will  find  a  supply  of  crape  at  the  same  place. 

"The  steamer  will  leave  for  Charleston,  it  is  expected, 
about  five  o'clock,  p.  m. 

"Wm.  C.  Howard,  C.  M. 
J.  G.  Green, 
Eli  W.  Hall,  Asst.  M." 

Tuesday,  April  23,  1850. 

"The  steamer  Nina  arrived  here  yesterday  from  Charles- 
ton, for  the  purpose  of  conveying  hence  to  that  city  the  re- 
mains of  Mr.  Calhoun. 

"Courtesy  :  The  Mayor  of  Charleston  has,  on  behalf  of  the 
city,  tendered  its  hospitalities  to  the  Magistrate  of  Police  of 
Wilmington,  and  the  committee  appointed  to  receive  the  re- 
mains of  Mr.  Calhoun  on  the  passage  through  this  place  to 
South  Carolina.  Colonel  Miller,  the  Magistrate  of  Police, 
has  addressed  a  polite  note  to  the  Mayor  accepting  the  cour- 
teous proffer.  The  South  Carolina  State  Committee  of 
Arrangements  have  also  invited  the  Wilmington  Committee 
to  proceed  to  Charleston,  join  in  the  funeral  solemnities,  and 
become  the  guests  of  the  city. 

"The  Committee  of  the  Senate  appointed  to  accompany 
the  remains  of  Mr.  Calhoun  to  South  Carolina  have  invited 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  173 

three  gentlemen  of  the  House  to  accompany  them,  to  wit: 
Mr.  Holmes,  Mr.  Winthrop,  and  Mr.  Venable,  all  of  whom 
have  accepted  the  invitation." 

The  following  is  copied  from  the  Wilmington  Chronicle 
of  May  1,  1850 : 

''^Eeception  of  the  remains  of  Mr.  Calhoun.  On  Wednes- 
day last,  near  2  o'clock,  p.  m.,  the  cars  arrived  from  Weldon, 
bringing  in  the  mortal  remains  of  John  C.  Calhoun,  in  the 
special  charge  of  Mr.  Beale,  the  Sergeant  at  Arms  of  the 
U.  S.  Senate,  and  Senators  Mason,  of  Virginia,  Clarke,  of 
Rhode  Island,  Dickinson,  of  New  York,  Davis,  of  Missouri, 
and  Dodge,  of  Iowa,  and  Mr.  Berrien,  of  Georgia.  The 
other  members  of  the  Senate  Committee  joined  them  in 
Charleston,  having  gone  on  some  days  before.  Mr.  Venable, 
of  North  Carolina,  and  Mr.  Holmes,  of  South  Carolina, 
Members  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  accompanied  the 
committee  by  invitation.  Mr.  Winthrop,  of  Massachusetts, 
who  had  likewise  been  invited  to  form  one  of  the  com- 
pany, was  prevented  from  doing  so.  A  committee  of 
twenty-five  from  South  Carolina  and  three  of  the  sons  of  the 
deceased  also  accompanied  the  remains.  The  citizens  of 
North  Carolina  to  whom  had  been  assigned  the  duty  of  at- 
tending on  the  remains  whilst  passing  through  Wilming- 
ton, proceeded  up  the  railroad  and  joined  the  train  some 
thirty  or  forty  miles  above,  and  in  the  procession  from  the 
depot  to  the  steamer  at  the  wharf  acted  as  pallbearers.  The 
arrangements  as  to  the  procession,  etc.,  were  carried  into 
effect  in  accordance  with  the  progTamme  published  in  our 
last  issue." 

The  following  we  take  from  the  Journal :  "On  the  arrival 
of  the  cars,  the  stores  and  places  of  business  were  closed,  the 
shipping  in  port  struck  their  colors  to  half  mast,  the  bells  of 
the  various  churches  were  tolled,  and  minute  guns  fired  while 
the  procession  moved  from  the  depot  down  Front  Street  to  the 
steamer  Nina  lying  at  Market  Street  dock,  where  she  was 
waiting  to  receive  the  remains  of  the  lamented  deceased,  and 
convey  them  to  the  City  of  Charleston. 


174  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"Notwithstanding  the  inclemency  of  the  day,  the  proces- 
sion was,  we  think,  the  largest  we  have  ever  seen  in  this  place. 
Everybody  seemed  anxious  to  pay  the  last  respect  to  the 
statesman  and  orator  who  has  so  long  and  so  faithfully  filled 
some  of  the  most  responsible  posts  of  his  country. 

"The  steamer.  Governor  Dudley,  handsomely  decorated  for 
the  occasion,  accompanied  the  Nina,  taking  over  a  portion  of 
the  committees  and  guests  to  the  City  of  Charleston.  Both 
steamers  left  the  wharf  about  half  past  three  o'clock  p.  m. 

"Wilmington  Committee.  The  gentlemen  whose  names 
follow  went  to  Charleston  on  Wednesday  last,  with  the  re- 
mains of  Mr.  Calhoun,  as  a  committee  from  the  citizens  of 
Wilmington,  in  manifestation  of  respect  for  the  memory  of 
the  illustrious  deceased:  Dr.  A.  J.  DeRosset,  sr.,  J.  T., 
Miller,  Gen.  James  Owen,  C.  D.  Ellis,  Gen.  L.  H.  Marsteller, 
P.  M.  Walker,  Thos.  Loring,  A.  J.  DeRosset,  jr..  Dr.  J.  F. 
McRee,  jr.,  Dr.  John  Swann,  Dr.  Wm.  A.  Berry,  James 
Pulton,  James  G.  Green,  Henry  R.  Savage,  Wm.  C.  Betten- 
court,  Edward  Cantwell,  John  Cowan,  John  L.  Holmes,  Eli 
W.  Hall,  Joseph  J.  Lippitt,  Henry  Nutt,  Robert  H.  Cowan, 
and  A.  A.  Brown. 

"The  Charleston  Courier  of  Saturday  says:  'A  committee 
appointed  by  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  came  on  in  the 
steamer  ISTina  and  was  met  at  the  landing  by  the  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  of  Reception,  who  welcomed  them  to  the 
city  and  extended  to  them  its  hospitalities,  to  which  Dr.  De- 
Rosset, sr.,  their  chairman,  responded  in  an  appropriate 
manner.' 

"We  should  be  greatly  lacking  in  courtesy  were  we  not  to 
express  in  this  public  manner  the  high  sense  of  gratefulness 
which  rests  with  the  Wilmington  Committee  for  the  manifold 
attentions  and  kindnesses  bestowed  upon  them  in  Charleston 
by  the  Committee  of  Reception  and  by  many  others.  The  pro- 
fuse and  elegant  hospitality  of  which  the  members  of  our 
committee  were  the  objects  is  very  deeply  appreciated  by  them 
individually  and  collectively." 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  175 

THE  DEATH  OF  GENERAL  McKAY. 

In  Mr.  Webster's  letter  from  Wilmington,  already  quoted, 
he  makes  reference  to  a  Mr.  McKay  as  personifying  politi- 
cal sentiment  outside  the  town  of  Wilmington. 

Gen.  James  Ivor  McKay  was  born  in  Bladen  County 
in  1793  and  died  suddenly  at  Goldsboro,  K  C,  the  15th  of 
September,  1853,  while  on  his  way  home  from  Tarboro.  As 
his  name  "Ivor"  indicates,  he  was  eminently  great.  In  the 
campaign  of  1844  his  report  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
of  Ways  and  Means  constituted  the  Democratic  platform  on 
which  Polk  was  elected  President;  and  in  1848  the  Demo- 
crats of  ISTorth  Carolina  presented  him  as  their  candidate  for 
the  Vice  Presidency. 

It  was  said  of  this  distinguished  son  of  the  Cape  Fear  that 
he  was  very  quiet  and  reserved  in  his  deportment  and  held 
in  contempt  all  manner  of  base  dealing  and  trickery — a  man 
of  such  integrity  that  his  presence  always  inspired  confidence 
and  trustfulness  in  those  whose  expressions  he  desired,  be- 
cause they  believed  in  his  fidelity. 

The  Wilmington  Daily  Journal  of  September  16,  1853, 
the  day  after  his  death,  said : 

"It  becomes  our  painful  duty  this  morning  to  announce  the 
unexpected  death  of  one  of  our  most  worthy  citizens,  Gen. 
James  I.  McKay,  of  Bladen  County.  General  McKay  arrived 
here  on  last  Monday  night  from  his  residence  in  Bladen,  en 
route  for  Tarboro,  in  Edgecombe  County,  as  a  witness  in  the 
case  of  the  State  against  Armstrong.  When  we  saw  him  on 
Tuesday  morning  he  was  apparently  in  better  health  than  for 
some  time  previous,  and  conversed  freely.  We  learn  that  on 
his  return  from  Edgecombe  yesterday  afternoon  he  was  taken 
suddenly  ill  on  board  the  cars,  and  on  arriving  at  Goldsboro 
it  was  found  necessary  for  him  to  stop,  where  he  expired,  at 
Mrs.  Borden's  Hotel,  at  a  quarter  before  8  o'clock  yesterday 
evening,  of  bilious  or  cramp  cholic,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of 
his  age. 


176  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"As  a  public  man,  General  McKay  was  well  known  to  be  a 
firm  and  consistent  Democrat,  having  served  liis  constituents 
for  eighteen  years,  from  1831  to  1849,  as  Member  of  Con- 
gress from  this  District,  and  during  that  time,  at  one  period, 
occupying  with  marked  ability  the  high  and  very  responsible 
office  of  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  Ways  and  Means,  of 
which  committee  he  was  chairman  at  the  time  of  the  passage 
of  the  Tariff  Bill  of  1846.  As  a  representative,  no  Member  of 
Congress  commanded  more  attention  or  respect.  He  might 
truly  be  said  to  have  served  his  constituents,  'till  he  volun- 
tarily retired,'  as  a  national  representative, — always  looking 
to  the  best  interests  of  the  whole  country,  and  discarding  all 
factious  and  sectional  jealousies." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Wilmington  Bar  held 
on  Saturday,  the  17th  day  of  September,  1853,  the  following 
proceedings  were  had. 

"On  motion  of  H.  L.  Holmes,  Esq.,  Kobert  Strange,  jr., 
Thomas  C.  Miller,  Mauger  London,  and  David  Reid,  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  resolutions  expressive  of 
the  regret  of  the  members  of  the  Bar,  upon  hearing  of  the 
death  of  Hon.  James  I.  McKay,  who  died  suddenly  at  Golds- 
boro,  on  Thursday  evening  last.  Mr.  Strange,  from  the  com- 
mittee, reported  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions: 

This  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  Wilmington  Bar  has  heard 
with  deep  regret  of  the  sudden  and  melancholy  death  of  Hon.  James 
I.  McKay,  of  Bladen  County.  General  McKay  for  many  years  was  a 
leading  practitioner  in  the  Courts  of  this  Circuit,  and  since  he 
retired  from  the  Bar,  has  been  greatly  distinguished  in  the  councils 
of  the  nation.  The  force  of  his  intellect  won  for  him  this  high  posi- 
tion and  strict  adherence  to  his  principles  and  great  regard  for  the 
honor  and  safety  of  his  country,  combined  with  almost  unparalleled 
integrity,  as  a  public  man,  secured  to  him  a  national  reputation,  of 
which  North  Carolina  may  justly  be  proud. 

While  the  death  of  General  McKay  is  a  loss  to  the  whole  country, 
yet  we  with  whom  he  has  been  more  immediately  associated,  cannot 
withhold  this  slight  tribute  of  respect  to  his  memory. 

Therefore  resolved,  That  by  the  death  of  Hon.  James  I.  McKay, 
North  Carolina  has  been  deprived  of  one  of  her  most  distinguished 
citizens,  and  the  whole  nation  of  one  whose  faithful  adherence  to  the 
Constitution  of  his  country,  and  whose  great  ability  and  honesty  of 
purpose,  have  won  the  admiration  of  men  of  all  parties. 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  177 

At  Wilmington,  as  his  remains  were  borne  through  the 
city,  there  was  a  great  public  demonstration.  His  body  was 
met  by  the  military,  all  the  bells  of  the  city  tolled,  and  an 
escort  accompanied  the  remains  to  their  last  resting  place 
in  the  family  burying  place  on  the  home  plantation  in  Bladen. 
The  steamboat  which  conveyed  the  sad  cortege  from  Wil- 
mington to  Elizabethtown  was  decked  in  the  habiliments  of 
woe,  and  its  monotone  wail  resounded  continuously  through 
the  forests  that  lined  the  banks  of  the  river. 


THE  WILKINGS-FLANNER  DUEL. 

On  the  evening  of  the  30th  of  April,  1856,  the  old  Court- 
house of  !N'ew  Hanover  County,  on  Princess  Street  in  Wil- 
mington, was  "packed  and  jammed"  by  an  enthusiastic  and 
excited  meeting  of  the  local  Democratic  association,  of  which 
Dr.  John  D.  Bellamy  was  the  President,  J.  D.  Gardner, 
jr.,  and  C.  H.  Eobinson,  the  Secretaries.  Eli  W.  Hall,  Esq., 
a  prominent  lawyer,  was  called  to  the  chair  and  made  an  elo- 
quent address  upon  political  affairs  out  of  which  had  arisen 
a  strong  party  contest  for  Commissioners  of  JSTavigation. 
He  showed  how  Know-Nothing  victories  had  been  won  over 
an  unsuspecting  people,  and  party  issues  forced  upon  a  com- 
munity in  whose  local  affairs  they  had  been  previously  un- 
known. 

Dr.  W.  C.  Wilkings,  a  prominent  young  physician  and 
politician,  was  loudly  called  for,  and  he  responded  in  an 
animated  and  stirring  address  (so  runs  the  Journal)  in  which 
he  portrayed  the  absurdity,  the  nonsense,  the  arrogance  of 
the  assumption  of  exclusive  Americanism,  made,  he  said, 
by  the  anti-Democratic  party.  He  was  followed  by  Moody 
B.  Smith,  a  strong  speaker,  who  was  listened  to  with  close 
attention,  interrupted  by  frequent  applause. 

At  the  conclusion  of  his  speech  Mr.  Ashe  moved  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  speakers. 

On  Saturday,  May  3,  1856,  another  grand  rally  of  the 
Democrats  was  held  in  front  of  the  Carolina  Hotel  on  Market 


178  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

and  Second  Streets,  and  the  assembled  crowd  proceeded 
thence  with  torches  at  a  late  hour  in  the  evening  to  the 
"Oaks,"  on  Dry  Pond. 

The  Journal  says  that  insulting  reference  had  been  made 
by  the  "Know-Nothings"  to  the  "Sand  Hill  Tackies."  Hon. 
Warren  Winslow  was  the  principal  speaker  and  received  the 
thanks  of  the  assembly  for  his  eloquent  address.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Mr.  John  L.  Holmes,  who  spoke  in  earnest  and  stir- 
ring style.  The  fateful  election  of  Commissioners  of  Navi- 
gation which  was  to  include  one  of  the  most  painful  tragedies 
in  the  history  of  Wilmington  occurred  on  the  5th  of  May, 
1856.    The  poll  was  as  follows: 

Democratic  Ticket. 

K  K  Nixon 493 

G.  W.  Davis 503 

Miles  Costin  497 

George  Houston 491 

L.  B.  Huggins 491 

Know-Nothing  Ticket. 

E.  F.  Brown 500 

J.  H.  Flanner 498 

T.  C.  Worth 501 

George  Harriss 507 

Silas  N.  Martin 494 

The  Journal  says  that  by  some  strange  mistake  an  active 
and  staunch  Democrat,  in  the  heat  and  excitement  of  the 
voting,  got  hold  of  and  put  in  a  Know-Nothing  vote,  thus  in 
fact  electing  Mr.  Flanner,  whereas,  had  the  mistake  not  oc- 
curred, Mr.  Costin  would  have  been  elected,  and  the  board 
would  have  stood  three  Democrats  to  two  Know-Nothings. 

In  the  meantime,  intense  excitement  throughout  the  tovTn 
was  caused  by  a  rumor  that  Doctor  Wilkings'  speech,  referred 
to,  had  incensed  his  friend,  Mr.  J.  H.  Flanner,  who  had  pub- 
lished a  card  which  resulted  in  a  challenge  to  mortal  combat 
from  Doctor  Wilkings.  I  was  then  nine  years  of  age,  at 
Jewett's  School,  and  I  remember  distinctly  the  excitement  of 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  179 

the  school  boys  while  Mr.  Flanner  dashed  past  the  schoolhouse 
behind  his  two  black  thoroughbreds  on  the  way  to  the  fatal 
meeting. 

The  Herald  of  Monday,  May  5,  1856,  said:  "Our  com- 
munity was  painfully  startled  on  Saturday  afternoon  last  by 
the  reception  of  a  telegraphic  dispatch  from  Marion,  S.  C,  to 
the  effect  that  a  hostile  meeting  had  taken  place  near  Fair 
Bluff,  between  Dr.  William  C.  Wilkings  and  Joseph  H. 
Flanner,  Esq.,  both  young  men  and  citizens  of  this  place,  and 
that  on  the  third  fire  the  former  received  the  ball  of  his  an- 
tagonist through  the  lungs,  and  in  a  very  few  moments  ex- 
pired. The  difficulty  gi-ew  out  of  a  speech  made  by  Doctor 
Wilkings  on  Wednesday  evening  last,  at  the  Democratic  meet- 
ing at  the  Courthouse.  They  fought  with  pistols,  at  ten 
paces,  Mr.  Wilkings  being  the  challenger."  The  gloom  over 
this  dreadful  affair  hung  for  many  years  over  those  who  parti- 
cipated in  it,  and  the  principal,  who  survived  the  duel, 
and,  going  abroad  as  a  State  agent,  survived  the  four  years' 
war,  died  some  years  later,  it  is  said  unhappy  and  under  a 
cloud,  in  a  foreign  land. 

The  following  cards  are  taken  from  the  Daily  Journal, 
May  5,  Y  and  8,  1856,  to  show  something  of  the  temper  of 
the  public  mind  with  reference  to  this  sad  and  exciting  affair. 

"Died. 

"In  Marion  District,  S.  C,  on  the  3d  instant.  Dr.  W.  C. 
Wilkings,  of  Wilmington,  N".  C,  aged  about  30  years. 

"Lost  to  the  community  in  the  full  promise  of  a  glorious 
manhood,  few  men  could  be  more  deeply  or  more  generally 
regretted  than  our  deceased  friend.  Brave,  ardent,  and  gen- 
erous, gifted  by  nature,  refined  and  strengthened  by  educa- 
tion, there  lay  before  him  the  prospect  of  a  long,  useful 
and  honorable  career.  That  career  has  been  cut  short, 
the  promise  of  his  ripe  manhood  left  unfulfilled,  and  he  has 
gone  down  to  his  grave  before  his  time,  but  his  memory  will 
long  survive  in  the  hearts  of  his  friends,  and  the  turf  that 


180  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

rests  over  his  cold  form  be  kept  green  by  the  unbidden  tear 
starting  even  from  eyes  that  knew  him  not  in  life. 

"Our  intimate  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Wilkings  was  of 
comparatively  recent  date,  and  arose  out  of  community  of 
political  feeling.  But  we  soon  learned  to  love  and  respect 
the  man  for  himself,  and  we  now  mourn  him  as  a  personal 
friend.  It  is  for  those  who  have  known  him  longer  and  better 
than  we  to  do  justice  to  his  character.  We  could  not  omit 
this  feeble  and  inadequate  tribute  to  his  memory. 

"Yesterday  his  remains  were  followed  to  their  last  resting 
place  in  Oakdale  Cemetery  by  the  largest  and  most  deeply 
affected  concourse  of  people  that  has  ever  been  seen  in  Wil- 
mington. Many  an  eye  was  wet,  although  long  unused  to 
tears,  and  as  the  solemn  bell  tolled  all  hearts  throbbed  mourn- 
fully and  painfully.  When  he  died,  a  MAlvT,  a  noble,  true- 
hearted  man,  passed  from  amongst  us. 

"To-day. 

"Saddened  by  a  great  calamity  in  our  midst,  we  have  no 
heart  today  for  political  discussion.  Overpowered  by  feel- 
ings beyond  our  ability  to  express,  we  know  that  mere  words 
would  be  out  of  place.  Standing  in  heart  by  the  freshly 
opened  grave  of  a  valued  friend,  whose  warm  grasp  yet 
thrills  through  our  frame,  can  we  be  expected  to  raise  a  shout 
of  contest  or  victory?  Duty  to  our  principles  alone  impels 
us,  but,  in  sorrow  or  in  joy,  that  feeling  should  predominate. 
We  trust  that  it  will  prove  so  to-day,  that,  though  saddened, 
the  Democrats  are  not  disheartened. 

"Now  is  not  the  time  to  speak  of  recent  events,  l^ow  is 
not  the  time  to  harrow  up  hearts  yet  bleeding,  and  we  forbear. 
That  God  who  tempers  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb  will  be 
the  comforter  and  sustainer  of  the  bereaved  ones  in  their 
deep  affliction.  Let  us  trust  that  His  helping  hand  will  not 
be  withheld,  that  He  will  pour  balm  into  the  bleeding  wounds, 
that  He  will  bind  up  the  broken  hearts  of  those  whose  sorrow 
is  more  than  they  can  bear. 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  181 

Wilmington,  N.  C,  May  6,  1856. 
As  there  are  reports  in  circulation  calculated  to  do  the  under- 
signed much  injustice,  in  reference  to  the  late  unfortunate  difiBculty 
between  Mr.  Planner  and  Dr.  Wilkings,  we  feel  compelled  to  state 
that  with  the  advice  of  our  lamented  friend.  Dr.  Wilkings,  we  ex- 
pressed ourselves  on  different  occasions  as  perfectly  willing  to  agree 
to  any  honorable  settlement;  and  under  the  influence  of  thii  feeling, 
when,  after  the  second  exchange  of  shots.  Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  jr., 
who  was  acting  in  the  capacity  of  surgeon  to  both  parties  (both  be- 
ing present)  approached  and  expressed  a  warm  desire  that  the 
matter  should  be  settled,  saying  that  "it  had  gone  far  enough,  and 
ought  to  be  settled,  that  both  parties  had  acted  fairly  and  honorably, 
and  had  shown  to  us,  as  well  as  to  the  world,  that  they  would  always 
be  ready  to  resent  any  imputation  on  their  honor,"  and  then  pro- 
posed, for  the  purpose  of  giving  Dr.  Wilkings  an  opportunity  of 
making  an  explanation  of  his  remarks  made  in  the  Courthouse,  that 
Mr.  Planner  should  withdraw  his  card  published  in  the  Herald  of 
the  1st  inst.,  to  which  we  assented,  expressing  our  willingness,  if  the 
card  was  withdrawn,  to  disclaim  for  Dr.  Wilkings  using  the 
language  imputed  to  him  by  Mr.  Planner.  This  proposition,  coming 
as  it  did  from  a  friend  of  both  parties,  we  sincerely  desired  would 
be  accepted  by  the  opposite  party.  It  was  not,  and  the  matter  pro- 
ceeded to  its  unfortunate  termination. 

W.  M.  Walkeb. 

F.  N.  Waddeix,  jb. 

These  are  the  very  words,  we  think.  Dr.  McRee  doubtless  recol- 
lects. 

"The  above  card,  witli  a  few  slight  alterations,  was  pre- 
pared for  publication  last  evening,  but  was  withheld  at  the 
suggestion  of  a  friend,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  make  a  joint 
statement  by  both  parties.  With  that  purpose  in  view,  I  called 
upon  Mr.  O.  P.  Meares,  and  handed  him  the  card  for  his 
perusal,  suggesting  at  the  time  that  if  there  was  any  modifi- 
cation he  desired  and  we  approved  of  it,  we  would  sign  it. 
He  objected  to  the  card  on  the  ground  that  it  did  not  contain 
a  proposition  for  a  settlement  of  the  dijfficulty  which  he,  Mr. 
Meares,  had  offered  me ;  the  acceptance  of  which,  on  consul- 
tation, was  declined,  because  we  felt  it  would  sacrifice  the 
honor  of  our  friend.  This  proposition  was  not  inserted  in  the 
original  card,  because  we  did  not  consider  it  pertinent  to  our 
exculpation  from  the  charges  now  rife  in  the  community.  I 
then  requested  Mr.  Meares  to  reduce  his  proposition  to  writ- 


182  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

ing,  which  he  did,  but  as  we  differ  so  materially  in  our  re- 
spective recollections  of  its  character,  I  thought  it  but  right 
to  publish  his  as  well  as  my  own  recollection  of  it. 

"W.  M.  Walker." 

The  last  conversation  held  between  Mr.  Meares  and  Mr.  Walker, 
before  the  third  fire,  was  after  the  following  manner  and  to  this 
effect:  Mr.  Meares  called  Mr.  Walker  to  him  and  said  that  he  was 
willing  to  make  a  fair  and  honorable  settlement,  that  he,  Mr.  Meares, 
would  not  make  an  unconditional  retraction  of  Mr.  Planner's  card, 
but  he,  Mr.  Meares,  would  make  in  writing  a  withdrawal  or  retrac- 
tion for  a  specific  purpose,  and  that  specific  purpose  (expressed  in 
the  same  paper  writing)  should  be  to  allow  an  explanation  on  the 
part  of  Doctor  Wilkings,  to  which  Mr.  Walker  replied  that  he  would 
consult  his  friends,  and  then  walked  to  where  his  friends  were,  and 
after  conversing  with  them  for  a  few  moments,  remarked  that  we 
would  have  to  go  to  work  again.  Whereupon  we  Immediately  loaded 
the  pistols  and  the  third  fire  was  had.  O.  P.  Meares. 

May  6,  1856,  12  o'clock. 

N.  B. — Mr.  Meares,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Walker,  gives  him  the 
above  as  his  statement  of  his  proposition  made  to  Mr.  Walker  im- 
mediately before  the  third  fire. 

Mb.  O.  p.  Meares, 

Dear  Sir: — After  having  duly  considered  the  above  statement,  and 
not  being  able  to  reconcile  it  to  my  recollection  of  our  conversation, 
I  consulted  my  friend,  Mr.  Waddell,  to  whom  I  had  repeated  it  word 
for  word  in  a  few  moments  after  its  occurrence.  I  find  his  recollec- 
tion accords  with  my  own,  and  that  is,  that  your  proposition  made  to 
me  on  the  above  occasion,  was  to  the  following  effect:  Mr.  Wilkings 
should  request  in  writing  a  withdrawal  of  the  card  of  Mr.  Planner 
and  in  the  same  writing  should  state  what  would  be  the  character 
of  his,  Mr.  Wilkings,  explanation.  In  this  event,  you  furthermore 
stated  you  would  consent  to  withdraw  Mr.  Planner's  card  for  that 
specific  purpose,  viz:  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  Mr.  Wilkings'  ex- 
planation. This  proposition,  as  friends  of  Mr.  Wilkings,  having  his 
honor  in  our  keeping,  we  felt  bound  to  reject. 

May  6,  1856,  2  o'clock,  p.  m.  W.  M.  Walker. 

To  THE  Public. 
"I  take  this  method  of  making  a  few  statements  in  ex- 
planation of  the  course  pursued  by  me,  in  connection  with  the 
recent  duel.  I  can  say,  with  a  clear  conscience,  that  I  was 
fully  impressed  with  the  responsibility  which  was  attached 
to  my  position.  I  knew  that  upon  one  unguarded  expression, 
or  one  imprudent  act  of  mine,  might  depend  the  life  of  a  fel- 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  183 

low  being.  I  can  also  say  that  I  was  not  actuated  by  any 
feeling  of  enmity  towards  the  late  Dr.  Wilkings.  We  had 
been  born  and  raised  in  the  same  community,  and  though  not 
intimate  friends,  we  had  never  had  any  personal  difficulty 
in  our  lives.  I  can  say,  too,  that  Mr.  Flanner  made  the  dec- 
laration before  he  left  town,  as  he  did  on  the  field  after  the 
second  fire,  that  he  did  not  desire  to  take  the  life  of  his  op- 
ponent, and  that  he  hoped  a  fair  and  honorable  settlement 
would  be  made.  For  these  reasons,  I  went  upon  the  field 
with  the  full  determination  to  accept  any  proposition  for  a 
settlement  which  I  could  regard  as  fair  and  honorable — and 
during  the  conversation  which  occurred  after  the  second  ex- 
change of  shots,  I  repeatedly  said  that  I  desired  a  fair  and 
honorable  settlement.  By  way  of  showing  my  willingness 
for  such  a  settlement,  I  call  attention  to  the  fact,  that,  as  the 
representative  of  the  challenged  party,  my  duty  was  simply  to 
receive  and  consider  such  propositions  as  might  be  made  by 
the  challenging  party,  and  such  is  the  course  usually  pursued 
by  persons  when  placed  in  the  same  position,  and  yet  I  went 
beyond  my  duty  by  making  the  proposition  for  a  withdrawal 
for  a  specific  purpose,  as  set  forth  in  the  card  signed  by  me 
and  published  by  Mr.  Walker  in  the  Journal  of  yesterday. 

"I  deem  it  due  to  the  public  to  state,  that  the  first  mention 
which  was  made  of  a  settlement  was  immediately  after  the 
first  fire,  when  Dr.  James  F.  McEee,  jr.,  who  was  acting  as 
the  surgeon  for  both  parties,  remarked  that  he  hoped  the 
difficulty  could  now  be  settled,  as  the  parties  had  taken  one 
fire.  Whereupon,  I  turned  to  Mr.  W.  M.  Walker,  who  was 
the  representative  of  the  other  party,  and  asked  him  the  ques- 
tion, in  the  presence  of  all  the  parties :  *What  have  you  to 
say,  Mr.  Walker?'  To  which  he  immediately  replied  as 
follows :  'Well,  sir,  we  still  occupy  our  former  position ;  you 
must  retract  and  apologize  for  your  card.'  I  then  said,  'Is 
this  all  you  have  to  say.'  He  answered  'Yes.'  And  then 
I  said,  'We  have  no  retraction  or  apology  to  make.'  We 
then  loaded  the  pistols  and  the  second  fire  was  made. 


184  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"The  object  of  this  card  is  not  to  give  a  full  account  of  all 
the  facts  which  occurred  upon  the  field ;  it  is  merely  to  state 
what  is  sufficient,  and  no  more,  to  explain  the  course  which 
I  pursued  upon  the  field.  In  conclusion,  I  will  say  that  the 
position  taken  by  me,  with  regard  to  a  settlement  was  that  I 
was  willing  to  retract  Mr.  Planner's  card  for  a  specific  pur- 
pose, it  being  so  expressed  in  writing,  but  that  I  would  not 
make  an  unconditional  retraction  of  his  card. 

"I  regret  the  necessity  which  compels  me  to  publish  even 
this  much  upon  this  subject.  "O.  P.  Meares.'' 

"May  8,  1856." 

The  allegation  in  Dr.  Wilkings'  speech  that  the  ticket  of 
the  opposition  was  composed  of  merchants  who  would  not 
hesitate  to  sacrifice  the  public  interests  (quarantine,  etc.) 
for  the  sake  of  a  dollar  brought  out  the  publication  of  Mr. 
Planner's  card  on  the  following  day,  that  the  statement  was 
false,  and  that  Dr.  Wilkings  knew  it  was  false  when  he 
made  it.  Wilkings  promptly  challenged  Planner,  whose  first 
shot  struck  Wilkings'  hat,  the  third  penetrated  his  right  lung 
and  killed  him  instantly. 


OLD  SCHOOL  DAYS  IN  WILMINGTON. 

Mr.  Stephen  Jewett,  a  most  amiable  and  estimable  gentle- 
man, cabinetmaker  by  trade,  settled  in  Smithville  about  the 
year  1839,  where  he  was  employed  in  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment service  and  also  as  postmaster  of  that  village.  While 
residing  there  he  married  Miss  Mary  Gracie,  a  Scotch  lady  of 
great  accomplishments,  intimately  related  to  the  president  of 
the  Bank  of  Cape  Pear,  Dr.  John  Hill.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jewett 
subsequently  opened  a  school  at  Smithville  which  they  con- 
ducted jointly,  she  having  been  previously  engaged  in  the 
profession  of  teaching  in  Wilmington.  Mrs.  Jewett  died 
while  on  her  way  to  Moore  County  with  her  husband. 

Some  years  later  Mr.  Jewett  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy 
Bradley,  sister  of  the  late  Mr.  Eichard  Bradley.  He  then 
made  his  home  here,  and  became  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Wil- 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  185 

mington,  in  which  capacity  he  served,  honored  and  respected 
by  the  community,  until  his  death  during  the  yellow  fever 
epidemic  in  1862. 

Mr.  George  W.  Jewett,  a  professional  school-teacher  of 
,  superior  attainments,  came  to  Wilmington  from  Kent  Hill, 
Maine,  at  the  suggestion  of  his  brother  Stephen,  about  the 
year  1852,  and  opened  the  Wilmington  Male  and  Female 
Seminary  in  a  small  frame  house  on  the  west  side  of  Third 
Street,  near  Ann  Street,  and  later  in  the  old  Society  Hall  in 
the  rear  of  St.  James'  Church.  He  was  assisted  in  the  fe- 
male department  by  his  accomplished  wife  and  two  other 
Northern  ladies,  Miss-Btetson  and  Miss  Whipple.  A  large 
majority  of  Mr.  Jewett's  boys  at  that  time  were  sons  of  the 
best  people  of  our  community,  with  a  reasonable  knowledge  of 
the  rules  of  propriety,  notwithstanding  which  his  school  disci- 
pline was  marked,  under  the  influence  of  passion,  by  frequent 
acts  of  unnecessary  severity,  and,  at  times,  by  positive 
cruelty ;  which,  instead  of  breaking  down  his  institution,  in- 
creased the  patronage,  our  fathers  in  those  days  evidently 
regarding  such  physical  treatment  as  both  wholesome  and 
necessary.  There  were  a  few  very  disorderly  boys,  however, 
who  deserved  a  whipping  as  regularly  as  they  got  it.  Who, 
among  the  survivors  of  the  incorrigibles,  can  forget  the  stern 
command :  "Walk  into  the  recitation  room,  sir,"  over  which 
apartment  might  have  been  written,  "He  who  enters  here 
leaves  hope  behind" ;  because  the  unhappy  culprit  to  whom 
this  exclamation  was  addressed  at  once  gave  himself  up  for 
lost,  reminding  us  of  Marryat's  boy,  Walter  Puddock,  who 
having  been  hauled  up  by  his  preceptor,  O'Gallagher,  without 
remonstrance,  immediately  began  to  prepare  for  punishment 
by  the  reduction  of  wearing  apparel. 

Oft  repeated  flagellations,  according  to  the  testimony  of  the 
old  time  Eton  boys,  render  the  subject  callous,  and  some  of 
these  hopeless  cases  of  Mr.  Jewett's  became  so  hardened  by 
this  process  that  they  ceased  to  make  any  outcry,  and  in  the 
language  of  the  prize  ring,  came  up  smiling  after  the  first 
round,  while  the  preceptor  had  evidently  the  worst  of  it. 


186  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Two  habitual  offenders,  J.  M.  and  W.  F.,  however,  found 
it  necessary  to  protect  themselves  from  the  neck  downwards 
with  padding,  which  sometimes  shifted  during  the  inevitable 
struggle,  exposing  the  epidermis,  and  causing  yells  of  en- 
treaty, and  other  demonstrations  of  suffering,  which  could 
be  heard  at  a  great  distance. 

Many  who  were  Mr.  Jewett's  pupils  will  recall  the  com- 
pulsory singing  lessons  and  the  noisy  demonstrations  when 
the  exhilarating  and  senseless  fugues  of  "Three  Blind  Mice" 
and  "Scotland's  Burning"  were  rendered  in  conclusion. 

Two  or  three  years  later  the  school  was  removed  to  the 
premises  on  the  east  corner  of  Third  and  Ann  Streets  and 
continued  until  the  commencement  of  the  war,  when  Mr. 
Jewett  went  to  Statesville,  where  he  taught  for  a  while.  He 
returned  to  Wilmington  about  the  close  of  the  war  and  re- 
sumed teaching  in  the  house  occupied  by  the  late  Captain 
Divine,  and  subsequently  on  the  corner  of  Second  and  Chest- 
nut Streets,  but  left  about  the  year  1881  for  his  former  home 
in  Maine,  where  he  died  of  heart  disease.  The  summons  came 
suddenly,  while  he  was  sitting  dressed  in  his  chair.  He  sim- 
ply straightened  out  his  arms  and  ceased  to  breathe. 

While  teaching  in  the  Wood  house,  on  the  corner  of  Second 
and  Chestnut  Streets,  an  incident  occurred  which  has  been 
treasured  by  the  surviving  pupils  as  one  of  the  few  occasions 
when  the  boys  "got  ahead  of"  their  alert  preceptor.  Doc  Nutt 
and  John  Cantwell  were  reckoned  as  the  incorrigibles  of  the 
school,  and  they  ceased  not  to  torment  the  teacher  with  their 
irrepressible  pranks ;  it  was,  therefore,  not  at  all  unusual  when 
Mr.  Jewett,  at  the  closing  hour,  ordered  them  one  fine  after- 
noon to  remain  for  punishment.  The  hours  wore  away  until 
nightfall,  and  as  the  teacher  came  not,  the  truth  dawned  on 
the  delinquents  that  he  had  forgotten  them.  They  heard  his 
tread  upstairs  returning  from  the  Lodge  meeting,  followed 
by  a  stillness  which  convinced  them  that  he  had  retired  for 
the  night.  Immediately  Doc's  fertile  brain  hatched  out  a 
plot ;  a  whispered  agreement  was  made  in  the  semi-darkness 
of  the  room ;  the  window  on  Second  Street,  which  was  only 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  187 

a  few  feet  from  the  ground,  was  raised ;  the  two  boys  climbed 
gently  to  the  street  and  lowered  the  sash  to  a  chip  on  the  sill 
so  that  they  could  grip  it  on  the  outside.  They  then  pro- 
ceeded homeward,  and  after  a  hearty  supper  and  a  sound 
sleep  they  reappeared  at  school  at  daylight  and  noiselessly 
assumed  their  places  at  their  desks.  When  the  old  woman 
who  made  the  fires  and  swept  the  room  appeared  later,  she  was 
fairly  astounded  to  see  them  sleepily  conning  the  tasks  as- 
signed to  them.  With  a  loud  exclamation  she  brought  Mr. 
Jewett  down  in  his  night  clothes.  He  was  profuse  in  his 
apologies — distressed  with  the  thought  of  his  forgetfulness — 
and  tenderly  solicitous  for  their  welfare.  They  had  suffered 
enough,  he  said,  and  were  excused  from  attendance  until  the 
following  day.  The  scamps  played  their  part  well,  and  wisely 
kept  their  own  counsel. 

Market  Street  between  Third  and  Fourth  Streets  was  a 
busy  scene  of  healthful  sport  for  the  boys  during  the  hour  of 
recess ;  "old  hundred,"  "three-handed  cat,"  games  of  marbles 
"for  fun"  and  for  "winnance,"  spinning  tops  of  all  descrip- 
tions— the  most  approved  and  expensive  being  fashioned  by 
William  Kellogg, — "jumping  frog,"  walking  on  the  hands 
with  the  heels  in  the  air,  and  other  diversions,  made  Jack 
anything  but  a  dull  boy.  John  Rankin  took  first  distinction 
in  putting  a  top  to  sleep ;  Steve  Jewett  was  most  skilKul  at 
marbles;  little  Tom  Wright  excelled  at  the  bat;  Jim  Metts 
jumped,  without  running,  and  turned  a  somersault  in  the 
air ;  he  also  walked  on  his  hands  a  whole  block,  followed  on 
foot  by  an  admiring  throng ;  and  Richard  Moore's  wonderful 
skill  sent  a  clamshell  straight  over  St.  James'  Church  tower. 

Periodically,  good  Miss  Urquhart,  who  lived  in  the  house 
now  Doctor  Thomas'  office,  mildly  expostulated  when  the 
clamor  became  unbearable ;  and  "Sounders,"  who  drove  their 
carts  full  of  ground  peas  to  market,  complained  that  the  leak- 
age in  passing  the  school  caused  by  large  stones  placed  in  the 
cart  ruts  by  the  boys,  was  intolerable.  These  were  minor 
incidents  of  constant  recurrence ;  but  when  the  old  boy  him- 
self marked  time  vsdth  his  big  brass  hand  bell,  in  the  chorus  of 


188  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"Scotland's  Burning,"  and  the  town  bell  in  the  market  house 
brought  the  Howard  Eelief  with  their  hand  engine  and  Cap- 
tain Griffith  with  his  "Hook  and  Ladder,"  our  joy  was  un- 
confined. 

Jewett's  boys  generally  turned  out  well;  many  became 
eminent  in  their  professions.  One  of  the  most  studious,  dig- 
nified boys  was  Piatt  Dickinson  Walker,  forecasting  his  ele- 
vation to  the  Supreme  Court  Bench. 

Only  two  of  the  forty  boys  (which  was  the  numerical  limit) 
became  a  reproach  to  the  school ;  neither  was  a  fit  associate, 
and  both  were  finally  expelled.  One  became  a  horse  thief, 
and  the  other  a  murderer ;  both  were  outlawed.  In  my  youth 
they  were  held  up  to  me  by  my  parents  as  horrid  examples 
of  total  depravity,  in  striking  contrast  with  the  shining 
virtues  of  our  neighbors,  the  C  alder  boys,  whose  footsteps  I 
have  always  endeavored  to  follow. 

A  system  of  monitors  was  a  part  of  Mr.  Jewett's  method  of 
discipline.  At  first,  in  the  old  school,  these  very  brilliant 
examples  of  his  favor  were  privileged  to  fire  the  stove,  sweep 
the  room,  bring  in  water,  and  to  take  a  half  holiday  on  Fri- 
day ;  but  later  on,  when  one  of  their  five  senses  was  requisi- 
tioned on  certain  occasions,  this  offensive  espionage  fell  into 
desuetude. 

Mr.  Jewett  always  wore  rubber  shoes,  which  enabled  him 
to  steal  with  catlike  tread  upon  an  unsuspecting  culprit 
absorbed  in  the  drawing  of  a  caricature,  who  gave  a  yell  of 
terror  when  his  ear  was  suddenly  twisted  in  a  way  we  de- 


The  recitation-room  floggings  were  generally  severe  and 
particularly  cruel,  and  it  was  sometimes  necessary  for  a  vic- 
tim of  Mr.  Jewett's  wrath  to  subsist  from  a  plate  on  the 
mantelpiece  for  a  day  or  two  afterwards.  To  his  credit,  how- 
ever, there  was  no  leniency  shown  to  his  four  nephews,  who 
had  all  "a  hard  road  to  travel" ;  and  Bradley  Jewett,  a  bright 
and  genial  pupil,  was  often  imposed  upon  in  order  to  exhibit 
the  discipline  of  the  Academy.  On  one  occasion  "Brad'* 
created  a  sensation  by  exhibiting  a  brass  pistol,  with  which  he 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  189 

declared  lie  would  shoot  his  uncle,  but  it  was  found  that  the 
lock  was  broken,  and  this  bloodthirsty  design  came  to  naught. 

Eating  during  school  hours  was  strictly  forbidden;  but 
George  Copes  managed  to  smuggle  a  pie  into  his  desk  at 
frequent  intervals,  which  he  bartered  for  sundry  information 
about  the  next  lesson,  as  he  was  generally  incapable  of  any 
severe  intellectual  exercise,  and  "Solomon's  dog  did  not  bark 
himself  to  death,"  as  Galloway  said,  trying  to  keep  George 
out  of  the  Temple  of  Wisdom. 

Archie  Worth,  beloved  by  all,  was  so  pestered  by  his  hun- 
gry associates  while  he  ate  his  pie  at  recess,  that  he  had  to 
climb  the  gatepost  to  enjoy  his  repast  in  peace.  From  that 
day  he  was  known  as  "  'Tato  Pie."  Years  afterwards,  while 
he  was  limping  along  the  roadside,  at  the  battle  of  Benton- 
ville,  some  strange  troops  passed  him,  and  one  of  them  ex- 
claimed, "Well,  if  there  ain't  old  'Tato  Pie  from  Wilming- 
ton!" 

Wednesday  was  given  up  to  lessons  and  exhibitions  in  dec- 
lamation. Bob  McEee,  in  "Robert  Emmett's  Defense,"  and 
Eugene  Martin,  in  "The  Sailor  Boy's  Dream,"  headed  the 
list  and  melted  us  to  tears.'TtDlarence  Martin,  Junius  Davis, 
Gilbert  and  Fred  Kidder,  Alexander  and  John  London,  Cecil 
Fleming,  Duncan  and  Richard  Moore,  Piatt  D.  Walker,  John 
D.  Barry,  John  VanBokkelen,  Willie  Gus  Wright,  Levin 
Lane,  Griffith  McRee,  John  Rankin,  Tom  Meares,  Sam 
Peterson,  Sonny  West,  Eddie  and  Tom  DeRosset,  Stephen 
and  Willie  Jewett,  Willie  Meares,  Willie  Lord,  and  others 
not  now  recalled,  gave  promise  of  undying  fame,  in  their 
fervid  renditions  of  "Sennacherib,"  "Marco  Bozzaris,"  Pat- 
rick Henry's  "Liberty  or  Death,"  Mark  Antony's  Oration 
over  Caesar's  Dead  Body,  "Kosciusko,"  "The  Burial  of  Sir 
John  Moore,"  "Hamlet's  Soliloquy,"  and  "Hohenlinden" 
(alas!  so  few  survive),  and  John  Walker  and  big  Tom 
Wright  divided  honors  on  the  immortal  "Casabianca." 
Henry  Latimer  and  the  writer  were  "tied"  on  the  same 
speech,  and  when  the  judge.  Colonel  Hall,  decided  in  the  for- 


190  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

mer's  favor,  the  unsuccessful  contestant  withdrew  perma- 
nently from  the  arena. 

Our  teacher  endeavored  to  impress  upon  our  minds,  by  re- 
peated admonitions,  the  importance  of  a  graceful  pose  and 
bearing  upon  the  platform.  The  declaimers  were  required 
to  bow  to  the  preceptor  and  to  the  audience  before  proceeding 
with  their  speeches.  Some  of  these  motions  were  very  un- 
graceful, and  others  were  positively  disgraceful.  Willie 
Martin  made  a  dab  at  it  like  the  forward  movement  of  a 
muscovy  duck;  whereupon,  Mr.  Jewett  admonished  him  and 
directed  him  to  watch  Mr.  Edward  Everett  on  the  occasion 
of  his  forthcoming  eulogy  of  Washington,  which  was  the  talk 
of  the  town.  On  the  following  Wednesday  Willie  was  called 
to  the  stage,  to  imitate  the  great  speaker  in  his  bow  to  his 
audience,  which  was  done  with  an  expression  of  intense  pain 
in  his  stomach,  to  the  great  delight  and  derision  of  the  whole 
school. 

One  of  the  most  memorable  exploits  of  our  school  days  was 
that  of  Walter  MacEae,  who  came  with  his  brother  Eoderick 
to  the  old  school  near  "The  Castle."  He  had  the  most  reten- 
tive memory  I  ever  knew,  and  once  when  a  column  of  the 
Daily  Journal,  edited  by  James  Fulton,  which  usually  con- 
tained (to  us)  the  dry  est  sort  of  political  twaddle,  was  read 
over  to  him,  he  repeated  it  "sight  unseen,"  almost  verbatim, 
to  our  admiring  audience.  Many  years  after,  we  belonged  to 
a  local  debating  society,  and  on  one  occasion  MacRae  was 
obliged  to  comply  with  his  appointment  as  the  principal 
speaker.  Picking  up  a  book  from  the  table,  he  gave  us  the 
finest  selection  of  the  season.  At  its  conclusion  we  took  the 
volume  from  his  hands  and  found  it  to  be  a  child's  spelling 
book.  He  had  recited  one  of  Rufus  Choate's  celebrated 
orations. 

Some  of  the  pupils,  mere  lads  at  the  commencement  of 
hostilities,  fell  in  battle  for  the  Lost  Cause;  others  have 
dropped  by  the  wayside  in  the  journey  of  life,  and  only  a  few 
survive,  of  whom  we  recall  the  names  and  well-remembered 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  191 

faces  of  Eugene  S.  Martin,  Leighton  Boone,  Thos.  H. 
Wright,  Junius  Davis,  Gilbert  P.  Kidder,  Richard  Moore, 
Thomas  D.  Meares,  John  London,  George  G.  Thomas,  Jordan 
Thomas,  Piatt  D.  Walker,  J.  T.  Rankin,  K  B.  Rankin,  A.  C. 
Worth,  W.  E.  Worth,  John  E.  Shackelford,  John  T.  North- 
rop, George  R.  French,  James  I.  Metts,  A.  G.  Latta,  John  B. 
Lord,  Stephen  Jewett,  R.  B.  Jewett,  Henry  G.  Latimer,  John 
M.  Walker.  The  roll  of  living  and  dead  is  an  honorable  one, 
and  notwithstanding  unpleasant  recollections  by  some  vpho 
were  harshly  treated,  reflects  honor  upon  the  memory  of  him 
who  trained  them.  And  he  was  always  proud  of  his  boys; 
and  well  he  might  be,  for  it  is  a  well  established  fact  that 
Mr.  Jewett's  pupils  were  thoroughly  prepared  for  college  in 
all  the  necessary  branches  of  their  matriculation ;  and  that 
many  who  were  unable,  by  the  intervention  of  the  war,  to 
enter  college,  owed  their  comparative  success  in  life  largely 
to  the  early  mental  training  under  that  able  preceptor. 

A  characteristic  incident  occurred  in  St.  John's  Lodge  of 
Masons  a  short  time  before  Mr.  Jewett's  death.  A  member 
of  the  fellowcraft  had  just  been  raised  to  the  sublime  degree 
of  Master  Mason,  after  a  highly  creditable  examination,  dur- 
ing which  he  exemplified  the  work  of  three  degrees  with  re- 
markable accuracy,  when  Mr.  Jewett  arose,  and  with  ap- 
parent pride  and  emotion  expressed  his  profound  satisfaction, 
remarking  that  the  younger  brother  had  been  his  pupil  for 
four  years  prior  to  the  War  between  the  States. 

He  was  most  cultivated  and  refined  in  his  social  inter- 
course, which  was  characterized  by  an  urbanity  entirely  at 
variance  with  his  professional  habit. 

His  estimable  wife  died  some  years  before  him,  leaving  an 
only  daughter  who  was  at  the  close  of  the  war  a  beautiful  and 
accomplished  young  lady.  Miss  Ella  married  Lieutenant 
Crosley,  of  the  U.  S.  Revenue  Cutter  Service,  but  she  died 
long  since,  without  issue. 

For  several  decades  before  the  war  Fort  Johnston  was 
garrisoned,  and  the  many  officers  of  the  Army  quartered 
there  added  greatly  to  the  social  life  of  the  lower  Cape  Fear. 


192  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

At  that  period  Smithville,  being  so  easily  accessible  by 
steamer,  was  the  favorite  summer  resort  of  Wilmington  fami- 
lies; and  there  the  belles  and  epauletted  beaux  found  con- 
genial pastime,  as  described  by  Mr.  Jewett  in  the  following 
lines : 

The  Wayfaeer^s  Adieu. 

Farewell!  dear  Smithville!  from  thy  pleasant  halls 

I  haste  reluctant  whither  duty  calls: 

But  for  a  moment,  let  me  linger  here 

To  trace  a  grateful  word,  and  drop  a  tear. 

For  who  e'er  left  thy  hospitable  shore 

And  blest  and  wept  thee  not  forever  more? 

If  rash  ambition  tempts  me  to  aspire 

To  seize  the  poet's  pen,  without  his  fire, 

And,  all  unskillful,  venture  to  rehearse 

Thy  lofty  virtues  in  heroic  verse. 

Appear,  O,  Muse  propitious,  and  supply 

Such  words  and  thoughts  as  fit  the  purpose  high. 

All  hail!  great  Smithville!  great  in  origin: 

For  did  not  Smith  thy  great  career  begin? 

Great  in  thy  old  renown,  when  heroes  bore 

Their  martial  honors  up  and  down  thy  shore, 

And,  strutting  stiff,  in  yellow  epaulettes. 

Lured  many  a  fair  one  to  their  gaudy  nets. 

Great  in  thy  battlefield,  our  garrison. 

Where  Cupid's  contests  still  are  lost  and  won; 

Great,  in  the  outspread  beauty  of  thy  bay. 

Great,  in  the  tiny  fleets  that  on  it  play. 

Great,  in  thy  sunshine;  in  thy  moonlight,  great. 

Great,  in  thy  risings  and  thy  settings,  late, 

Great,  in  thy  sandy  streets,  and  spreading  shades, 

Great,  in  fandangoes,  frolics  and  charades. 

Great,  in  thy  pig-fish,  oysters,  trout,  and  clams. 

Great,  in  thy  raging  tempests,  great  in  calms. 

Great,  in  thy  tete-a-tetes  at  dewy  e'en. 

And  great.  Ah!  very  great,  in  crinoline. 

What  visions  rise,  what  memories  crowd  around 

My  toiling  pen  at  that  suggestive  sound! 

But  thickest  cluster  in  the  haunts  of  song. 

Where  crinolines,  in  scores,  are  wont  to  throng. 

And  thou!  oh,  sacred  temple  of  The  Nine, 

Where  wit  and  beauty  spread  their  chains  divine, 

How  shall  I  style  thee?  for  thy  noble  name 

Hath  not  been  soiled  by  lips  of  common  fame. 

They  call  thee  "cottage,"  but  that  name  I  scout, 

And  here  forever  blot  the  scandal  out. 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  193 

No  name  plebeian,  couched  in  vulgar  words, 
Is  thy  true  title:  Thou'rt  a  "House  of  Lords." 
What  though  thou  standest  on  Columbia's  soil, 
Her  sons  would  scorn  thy  regal  halls  to  spoil; 
Here,  noble  lords  and  beauteous  ladies  meet. 
And  their  fair  Queen  with  loyal  homage  greet: 
Here,  too,  'twas  mine  to  fill  an  humble  place, 
And  taste,  full  oft,  the  sweets  of  royal  grace. 
Methinks  I  see  thee  as  I  oft  have  seen, 
Spangled  with  beauty,  set  in  crinoline. 
The  fair  Columbia  stands  with  stately  grace; 
Benignant  smiles  illume  her  queenly  face. 
Victoria's  throne  was  bootless  to  confer 
Imperial  dignity  on  such  as  her. 
And  yet  she  stooped— what  folly  to  record— 
The  royal  lady  stooped— to  wed  a  Lord. 
Then  we  turn  to  the  court;  and  first  observe 
The  lady  yonder,  with  the  restless  nerve; 
"A  female  archer":  mark  her  pungent  wit, 
In  random  shots,  regardless  whom  they  hit- 
But  most  she  loves  to  shoot  the  pedagogues. 
As  wanton  boys,  for  pastime,  pelt  the  frogs. 
In  youth  she  wore  the  honored  name  of  Brown; 
"My  name,"  sighed  she,  "is  but  a  common  noun." 

A  son  of  science,  with  no  heart  of  stone, 

O'erheard  her  plaint,  and  offered  her  his  own. 

So  wit  and  genius  she  vouchsafed  to  link 

Forever  with  the  rare  name  of  Frink. 

On  yonder  face,  so  beautiful  to  view. 

How  blend  the  lily's  with  the  rose's  hue; 

Her  flashing  eye,  in  jetty  radiance  burns, 

And  almost  scorches  him  on  whom  it  turns. 

Forth  fly  thy  arrowy  missiles;  maid,  beware, 

Lest  you  should  pierce  the  heart  you  mean  to  spare. 

You  may  not  dream  that  flickering  hopes  and  fears 

Hang  trembling  on  a  glance  of  Addie  Meares. 

Upon  that  ample  brow,  where  jeweled  thought 

Is  fashioned,  and  with  graceful  polish  wrought, 

O'erhangs  an  eye  of  rare  intelligence, 

Whose  lightest  glance  reveals  the  solid  sense. 

Deepest  and  dark,  with  grave  and  pensive  ray, 

Save  when  the  radiant  smiles  around  it  play. 

Who  does  not  see  through  the  clear,  pure  light 

That  ever  guides  the  steps  of  Anna  (W)  right? 

My  eager  pen,  impatient  to  advance. 

Compels  me  hence  to  take  a  hastier  glance, 

And  scatter  gems  along  the  glowing  line. 

More  brilliant  than  adorn  Golconda's  mine, 


194  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Brown,  Rankin,  Cowan,  Walker,  Prioleau, 

Shall  in  one  brilliant  constellation  glow, 

I  gaze  bedazzled,  yet  delight  me  still 

My  modest  "Valley"  and  the  favorite  "Hill"  (Miss  Lossie) 

But  can  we,  Muse,  the  starry  sphere  portray. 

By  painting  separate  every  golden  ray? 

Then  let  my  pen  this  endless  task  resign. 

And  bid  our  stars  in  blended  glory  shine. 

But  hark!  from  rosy  lips  there  pour  along 

The  echoing  walls  the  mingled  streams  of  song. 

Quick  to  the  soul  the  conquering  floods  make  way 

And  song  and  beauty  hold  divinest  sway. 

Apollo  could  but  listen,  gaze,  admire. 

And  hate,  henceforth,  his  goddess  and  his  lyre. 

Oh  sacred  cherished  spot!  to  yield  thee  up 

Is  gall  and  wormwood  in  my  parting  cup. 

Farewell,  farewell!  may  wintry  winds 

Strain  gentle  on  thy  braces  and  thy  pins, 

May  no  rude  storm  unroof  thee  and  expose 

Thy  naked  ribs  to  their  remorseless  blows. 

May  time  and  whitewash  still  thy  years  prolong 

To  shelter  beauty,  genius,  worth,  and  song. 

Farewell,  ye  summer  pleasures,  bright  and  brief, 

That  fade  and  fall  before  the  early  leaf; 

With  summer  suns  thy  leaves  again  return. 

The  life  that  bare  you,  there  may  fill  an  urn. 

Farewell,  ye  warblers,  matrons,  maidens,  all. 

Whose  forms  are  wont  to  grace  our  festive  hall. 

Farewell!   May  heaven,  his  sweetest  peace  diffuse 

Through  each  pure  breast  as  sink  the  gentle  dews. 

'Neath  all  his  shielding  aegis  may  you  rest, 

With  life,  health,  love,  and  friendship  blest. 

And  when  from  raging  summer's  heats 

Impelled  again  to  flee. 

You  grace  once  more  the  cool  retreats, 

May  I  be  there  to  see. 


EDWARD  B.  DUDLEY. 

Among  the  many  great  men  who  have  adorned  the  life  of 
our  community  and  contributed  to  the  prosperity  of  this 
section  of  the  State,  no  one  has  surpassed  in  usefulness  Ed- 
ward B.  Dudley. 

On  the  occasion  of  his  death,  Eobert  H.  Cowan  was  selected 
by  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  to  deliver  an  address  com- 
memorative of  his  life  and  character,  and  performed  that 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  195 

public  service  on  the  eighth  day  of  !N"oveinber,  1855.  From 
Colonel  Cowan's  address  we  learn  that  Governor  Dudley  was 
born  in  Onslow  County,  December  15,  1789,  and  died  in  Wil- 
mington on  the  30th  of  October,  1855.  When  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  represented  Onslow  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
and  in  1813  and  1814  in  the  Senate.  During  the  war  with 
England  he  came  to  Wilmington,  the  second  in  command  of 
the  regiment  of  volunteers  who  flocked  from  the  neighboring 
counties  to  repel  threatened  British  invasion.  In  1815  he 
removed  to  Wilmington,  and  in  1816  and  1817  he  represented 
the  town  of  Wilmingi:on  in  the  House  of  Commons.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a  Republican — as  distinguished  from  the  Federal- 
ists. Governor  Holmes,  who  was  the  representative  of  the 
District  in  Congress,  having  died,  in  I^^ovember,  1829,  Mr. 
Dudley  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  At  that  time  he  was  a 
Jackson  man ;  but  not  being  satisfied  with  the  policy  of  the 
administration,  in  Congress  he  attached  himself  to  the  oppo- 
sition, and  then  declined  reelection,  saying,  "I  cannot,  fellow 
citizens,  forego  my  own  opinion  for  that  of  any  man.  I  ac- 
knowledge no  master  but  the  laws  and  duty — no  party  but 
the  interests  of  my  country."  He  was,  more  than  any  other 
man,  the  father  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad  and 
was  its  president  until  elected  Governor,  in  1836,  the  first 
governor  chosen  by  the  people — and  doubtless  selected  be- 
cause of  his  advocacy  of  internal  improvements.  "He  pos- 
sessed administrative  ability  of  a  very  rare  order ;  and  his  ad- 
ministration as  governor  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  and 
practically  useful  which  !N"orth  Carolina  has  ever  known" — 
and  moreover  "his  hospitality  was  dispensed  so  liberally,  so 
graciously,  and  with  such  a  warm  and  open  heart,  that  it  will 
long  be  remembered  by  all  who  had  occasion  to  visit  the  Capi- 
tal while  he  occupied  the  Executive  Mansion.  *  *  * 
His  whole  energies  were  given  to  the  cause  of  internal  im- 
provements, for  the  development  of  the  resources  of  Worth 
Carolina,  and  for  the  building  up  of  her  commercial  greatness. 
*  *  *  The  completion  of  a  liberal  system  of  internal  im- 
14 


196  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

provements  and  the  establishment  of  a  permanent  system 
of  common  schools  formed  the  highest  object  of  his  ambition. 
His  career  proves  that  he  is  well  entitled  to  the  proud  name  of 
Father  of  Internal  Improvements  in  North  Carolina.  He  was 
far  in  advance  of  his  age ;  but  he  lived  to  see  the  State  arouse 
from  her  lethargy  and  adopt  the  measures  he  had  forecast 
with  sagacity  and  enlarged  and  enlightened  patriotism." 

Addressing  the  stockholders  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon 
Eailroad  Company,  Colonel  Cowan  said:  "You  must  re- 
member that  yours  was  the  pioneer  work  in  North  Carolina, 
that  it  was  an  experiment,  that  it  was  undertaken  without 
sufficient  means,  that  it  was  condemned  beforehand  as  a 
failure,  that  it  encountered  troubles,  trials,  difficulties  of  the 
most  extraordinary  character;  that  nothing  but  the  most  in- 
domitable energy,  the  most  liberal  enterprise,  the  most  un- 
ceasing patience,  the  most  determined  spirit  of  perseverance, 
could  have  enabled  it  to  surmount  those  difficulties.  Governor 
Dudley  brought  all  of  these  qualifications  to  the  task  and 
commanded  the  success  which  he  so  eminently  deserved.  He 
subscribed  a  very  large  portion  of  his  large  estate  to  its  com- 
pletion. He  devoted  all  his  time,  all  his  talents,  and  all  his 
energies,  and  that  too  at  an  immense  loss  from  the  neglect 
of  his  private  interests,  to  put  it  into  successful  operation. 
Nor  did  his  services,  nor  his  personal  sacrifices  stop  there. 
When  your  offices,  your  warehouses  and  your  workshops,  and 
all  of  your  machinery  which  was  not  then  in  actual  use,  were 
laid  in  ruins  by  the  terrible  fire  of  1843 ;  when  a  heap  of 
smouldering  embers  marked  the  spot  where  all  of  your  pos- 
sessions in  Wilmington  the  day  before  had  stood ;  when  your 
most  ardent  friends  had  begun  to  despair;  when  your  own 
merchants  had  refused  to  credit  you,  and,  regarded  merely 
from  a  business  point  of  view,  had  justly  refused,  because 
they  had  already  extended  their  confidence  beyond  the  limits 
of  prudence;  when  your  long  sinking  credit  was  at  last  de- 
stroyed and  your  failure  seemed  inevitable — Governor  Dud- 
ley came  forward  and  pledged  the  whole  of  his  private  estate 
as  your  security,  and  thus,  with  renewed  confidence  in  your 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  197 

solvency  you  were  enabled  to  go  on  to  that  complete  success 
which  awaited  you  entirely  through  his  exertions." 

Such  was  the  character  of  the  man — the  man  of  generous 
sentiments,  of  high  courtesy,  of  true  courage.  He  set  a  noble 
example,  was  eminent  in  all  the  practical  departments  of 
life,  and  was  eminently  good  in  all  of  his  social  relations. 
Thus  his  death  was  mourned  as  a  general  loss,  and  his 
memory  was  treasured  by  the  people  of  Wilmington. 


COLONEL  BUEE. 

Col.  James  G.  Burr,  one  of  our  oldest  and  most  highly 
esteemed  citizens,  died  ITovember  13,  1898,  aged  80  years. 

He  was  born  in  Wilmington  and  was  prominent  in  all  of 
its  stirring  events.  For  many  years  he  was  cashier  of  the 
Bank  of  Cape  Fear.  During  the  War  between  the  States, 
he  was  colonel  of  the  regiment  of  Home  Guards.  After  the 
war  he  resumed  his  profession  as  a  banker.  Later,  he  was 
assistant  postmaster  of  Wilmington  under  O.  G.  Parsley, 
Esq.,  during  Cleveland's  administration. 

Colonel  Burr,  like  his  brother  Talcott,  had  fine  literary 
attainments,  and  possessed  a  discriminating  mind,  together 
with  an  admirable  judgment  of  men.  He  was  much  in- 
terested in  local  history  and  was  regarded  as  an  authority 
with  reference  to  important  dates  and  deeds  on  the  Cape 
Fear.  He  wrote  with  precision  and  elegance,  and  contrib- 
uted many  interesting  narratives  to  the  local  press  over  his 
nom  de  plume,  "Senex." 

Associated  all  through  life  with  our  leading  citizens,  he 
knew  them  well,  and  his  sketches,  valuable  for  their  accuracy, 
have  served  to  rescue  from  oblivion  the  memory  of  many 
who,  in  their  day,  adorned  our  community. 

Attracted  by  mutual  interest  in  the  tales  and  traditions  of 
the  Cape  Fear,  many  years  before  his  death,  we  became  de- 
voted friends;  and,  in  recognition  of  my  high  regard  for 
him,  he  voluntarily  made  over  to  me  all  his  manuscripts  and 
publications,  of  which  he  had  a  large  accumulation.     A  few 


198  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

weeks  before  his  last  illness,  however,  he  came  to  my  office 
and  confided  to  me  that  he  had  destroyed  all  his  manuscripts. 

He  explained  that  he  had  been  prevailed  upon  to  republish 
the  distressing  story  of  the  desecration  of  the  Holy  Sacra- 
ment by  a  party  of  twelve  local  debauchees  in  the  early  days 
of  the  town,  and  that  he  had  been  reproached  repeatedly  that 
morning  by  some  descendants  of  those  involved  in  that  hor- 
rible affair;  that  he  had  then  returned  home,  and  made  a 
bonfire  in  his  backyard  of  all  the  manuscripts  which  he  had 
promised  to  leave  me. 

The  condensation  of  his  sketch  of  the  Thalian  Association, 
and  the  article  on  Johnson  Hooper  and  the  British  Consul 
may  serve  to  keep  his  memory  green. 


THE  THALIA:N'  ASSOCIATION". 

In  1871  Col.  James  G.  Burr  performed  a  grateful  service 
to  the  community  by  publishing  a  pamphlet  of  fifty  pages 
giving  an  account  of  the  Thalian  Association,  together  with 
sketches  of  many  of  its  members,  from  which  the  following 
has  been  condensed. 

When,  during  the  French  and  Indian  War,  Col.  James 
Innes  was  in  command  of  all  the  Colonial  forces  in  Vir- 
ginia, he  made  his  will,  in  which  he  devised  a  large  part  of  his 
estate,  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  for  the  use  of  a  free  school 
for  the  benefit  of  the  youth  of  ISTorth  Carolina.  A  quarter 
of  a  century  later  the  legislature  appointed  trustees  of  "Innes 
Academy,"  and  in  1788  subscriptions  were  taken  up  among 
the  citizens,  and  the  three  lots  next  north  of  Princess  between 
Third  and  Fourth  Streets  were  secured,  and  subsequently, 
by  way  of  confirming  the  title,  were  purchased  from  the 
University  "as  escheated  property  of  Michael  Higgins,  one 
of  the  original  settlers  of  the  town  of  Wilmington."^ 

Before  the  completion  of  the  academy  building  a  theatrical 
corps  had  been  organized  in  Wilmington,  and  an  arrangement 
had  been  made  between  them  and  the  trustees  of  the  aca- 


>The  investigations  of  W.  B.  McKoy,  Esq.,  show  that  this  property  was 
escheated,  not  because  it  had  belonged  to  Higgins,  but  to  two  Tories. 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  199 

demy  for  the  lower  part  of  the  huilding  to  be  fitted  up  and 
used  exclusively  as  a  theatre;  and  a  perpetual  lease  was 
made,  conformably,  to  the  Thalian  Association.  The  build- 
ing was  erected  about  the  year  1800,  when  the  town  could 
boast  of  hardly  more  than  1,500  inhabitants.  Years  after- 
wards, the  academy  fell  into  ruin  and  was  not  used  for 
educational  purposes.  The  Thalian  Association,  however, 
continued  to  hold  possession.  Its  claim  was  resisted  by  the 
University,  and  by  way  of  compromise,  the  property  was 
sold  and  purchased  by  the  town,  it  being  agreed  that  half  the 
purchase  money  should  be  applied  to  the  erection  of  a  build- 
ing with  suitable  rooms  for  theatrical  performances. 

Of  the  members  of  the  first  Thalian  Association,  the  name 
of  Col.  Archibald  McNiell  alone  has  been  preserved.  He  was 
the  star  performer,  and  in  his  delineation  of  the  character 
of  Hamlet  very  few  professional  actors  could  excel  him. 

After  some  years  a  second  Thalian  Association  was  organ- 
ized, among  the  members  being  Edward  B.  Dudley,  William 
B.  Meares,  Chas.  J.  Wright,  James  S.  Green,  William  M. 
Green,  Julius  H.  Walker,  William  C.  Lord,  James  Telfair, 
Charles  L.  Adams,  Dr.  James  F.  McEee,  Col.  John  D.  Jones, 
Kobert  Kankin,  William  H.  Halsey,  Thomas  Loring,  John 
Cowan,  and  others  not  now  remembered. 

Of  Governor  Dudley  mention  is  elsewhere  made.  Mr. 
Meares  was  a  lawyer  of  commanding  influence,  at  one  time 
coming  within  one  vote  of  being  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States ;  but,  unhappily,  he  died  suddenly,  while  yet  in 
the  full  maturity  of  his  powers. 

Charles  J.  Wright  was  an  actor  by  intuition.  He  strode 
the  boards  with  a  majesty  and  grace  that  Cooper  or  Cook 
might  have  envied  in  their  palmiest  days.  He  was  the 
eldest  son  of  Judge  J.  G.  Wright,  and  a  lawyer,  but  became 
president  of  the  Wilmington  branch  of  the  Bank  of  the 
State.  His  son,  Lieut.  William  Henry  Wright,  graduated 
at  the  head  of  his  class  at  West  Point,  Beauregard  being  next, 
and  became  eminent  as  an  officer  of  the  Engineer  Corps. 

Julius  Walker  was  an  actor  of  extraordinary  merit.     He 


200  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

had  great  fondness  for  the  drama,  and  he  had  few  equals  as 
an  amateur  performer. 

James  S-  Green,  the  treasurer  of  the  Wilmington  and  Wel- 
don  Kailroad  Company  from  its  organization  till  his  death, 
in  1862,  was  unequaled  as  a  comedian.  He  was  an  ad- 
mirable type  of  the  Cape  Fear  gentleman  of  the  olden  time ; 
with  a  fund  of  anecdote  and  wit ;  as  a  story-teller  he  was  un- 
rivaled. Passionately  fond  of  music,  he  sang  the  plaintive 
ballads  of  the  old  days  with  great  feeling  and  expression. 

Col.  John  D.  Jones  excelled  in  the  character  of  Hamlet. 
Eeared  to  the  practice  of  the  law,  he  early  abandoned  it  for 
the  more  genial  pursuits  of  literature  and  agriculture.  He 
was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  presided  with 
great  ability.  Later,  he  was  Naval  officer  of  the  port  and 
president  of  the  Bank  of  Cape  Fear. 

Dr.  James  F.  McRee  was  one  of  the  foremost  men  in  hia 
profession,  in  this  or  any  other  State;  a  most  successful 
practitioner  and  a  bold  and  brilliant  operator.  He  had  great 
scholarly  attainments,  was  fond  of  the  classics,  wrote  with 
ease  and  elegance,  was  equally  at  home  in  the  researches  of 
philosophy  and  the  mazes  of  metaphysics,  the  natural  sciences, 
and  the  polite  literature  of  the  day. 

William  M.  Green,  later  Bishop  of  Mississippi,  remark- 
able for  intelligence,  suavity  of  manner,  and  for  a  beauty 
somewhat  feminine,  and  David  M.  Miller,  father  of  the 
late  lamented  Col.  James  T.  Miller,  played  with  success 
the  role  of  female  characters. 

William  C.  Lord  sustained  the  role  of  the  sentimental 
gentleman  with  great  dignity  and  propriety.  He  was  one  of 
nature's  noblemen. 

John  Cowan  was  admirable  in  genteel  comedy.  His  fine 
figure,  graceful  manner,  and  correct  gesticulations  appeared 
to  great  advantage  on  the  stage.  He  was  eldest  son  of  Col. 
Thomas  Cowan,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  the  town,  and  was 
one  of  the  handsomest  men  of  the  day.  He  became  cashier 
of  the  Bank  of  the  State. 

William  H.  Halsey  frequently  appeared  on  the  stage  and 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  201 

was  as  natural  as  life.  He  was  prominent  in  his  profession, 
and  left  the  reputation  of  a  lawyer  of  great  learning. 

Charles  L.  Adams  played  well  his  part  among  the  choice 
spirits  of  those  days  and  added  much  to  the  success  of  their 
representations  by  his  versatility  of  talent,  knowledge  of 
scenic  effects,  and  unfailing  good  humor. 

Thomas  Loring  was  an  excellent  performer  in  the  higher 
walks  of  tragedy.  He  had  a  face  of  marked  expression,  a 
voice  deep-chested  and  sonorous,  and  in  his  rendition  of  the 
characters  of  Shylock  and  of  the  Duhe  of  Gloucester  there  was 
an  earnestness  and  a  passion  not  easily  forgotten.  Mr. 
Loring  was  one  of  the  best  known  editors  in  the  State. 

After  a  most  successful  existence  of  some  years  this  organ- 
ization ceased,  but  soon  the  Association  was  revived  by  an- 
other set  of  aspirants  for  the  buskin  who  did  not  in  point  of 
talent  disgrace  their  predecessors. 

Among  them  were  Joseph  A.  Hill,  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Wright, 
Robert  H.  Cowan,  Dr.  James  H.  Dickson,  Dr.  John  Hill, 
Lawrence  D.  Dorsey,  John  Nutt  Brown,  and  many  others. 
They  played  with  very  great  success. 

Joseph  A.  Hill  shone  on  the  mimic  stage,  as  he  did  upon 
the  actual  stage  of  life,  with  unfailing  lustre.  A  son  of  Wil- 
liam H.  Hill  and  a  grandson  of  John  Ashe,  he  had  no  rival 
of  his  age  as  a  debater  and  orator,  and  no  superior  of  any  age 
in  North  Carolina. 

Dr.  Thomas  H.  Wright  played  female  characters  with 
great  success.  He  became  president  of  the  Bank  of  Cape 
Fear. 

Robert  H.  Cowan  was  a  very  popular  member  of  the  Asso- 
ciation and  bore  a  prominent  part  in  all  their  representations. 
After  preparing  for  the  law,  he  abandoned  it  for  agricul- 
ture. 

Dr.  James  H.  Dickson  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Association  and  appeared  frequently  upon  the  stage  and  was 
regarded  as  an  excellent  performer.  Embracing  the  profes- 
sion of  medicine,  he  sprang  at  once  into  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice.     He  possessed  great  power — ^was  a  student  all  his 


202  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

life,  a  lover  of  books  and  a  thinker,  a  man  of  scholarly  attain- 
ment and  fond  of  scientific  study.  He  fell  at  his  post  of 
duty,  one  of  the  earliest  victims  of  the  fearful  epidemic 
of  1862. 

Dr.  John  Hill  frequently  appeared  upon  the  boards,  al- 
ways in  genteel  comedy,  and  as  the  gentleman  of  the  piece, 
which  harmonized  well  with  his  graceful  figure  and  easy 
manner.  He  was  a  remarkably  handsome  man.  Endowed 
with  versatile  talents,  he  equally  graced  the  stage  and  the 
drawing  room.  While  eminent  as  a  physician,  he  achieved 
a  particular  fame  for  his  literary  accomplishments.  He  be- 
came president  of  the  Bank  of  Cape  Fear,  and  was  known  as 
Dr.  John  "Bank"  Hill — to  distinguish  him  from  his  kinsman. 
Dr.  John  H.  Hill. 

Eventually  this  Association,  like  its  predecessor,  dissolved, 
but  there  came  along  a  strolling  company  of  actors  who 
leased  the  theatre  for  two  or  three  seasons,  and  after  their 
departure,  interest  in  theatricals  having  revived,  a  third  or- 
ganization was  formed. 

The  members  of  the  new  Association  well  sustained  the 
reputation  of  the  former  players.  For  a  long  time  they 
offered  the  only  source  of  amusement  to  the  public,  and 
crowded  houses  always  greeted  their  performances.  On  the 
list  of  members  we  find  the  names  of  William  Cameron, 
John  S.  James,  L.  H.  Marsteller,  Bela  H.  Jacobs,  P.  W.  Fan- 
ning, John  MacEae,  Augustus  Ramousin,  Joshua  James,  E. 
H.  Wingate,  J.  F.  Gianople,  J.  P.  Brownlow,  A.  A.  Brown,  J. 
McColl,  W.  E.  Blaney,  E.  Withington,  Daniel  Sherwood,  C. 
Manning,  Wm.  Lowry,  W.  IT.  Peden,  Dr.  W.  J.  Price,  R.  J. 
Dorsey,  Daniel  Dickson,  Roger  Moore,  W.  A.  AUen. 

William  Cameron  was  a  natural  born  actor,  possessing 
great  versatility  of  talents,  and  he  was  passionately  fond  of 
theatrical  amusements.  Later  in  life,  he  removed  to  the 
South. 

Lewis  H.  Marsteller,  a  descendant  of  CoL  Lewis  D.  Mars- 
teller,  distinguished  in  the  Revolution  and  one  of  the  pall- 
bearers of  General  Washington,  at  an  early  age  came  to  Wil- 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  203 

mington  from  Virginia.  He  played  the  sentimental  gentle- 
man, and  was  easy  and  natural  on  the  stage.  He  was  at  one 
time  the  most  popular  man  in  the  county  and  was  never  de- 
feated before  the  people  He  was  collector  of  customs  and 
clerk  of  the  court. 

Price,  Jacobs,  Wingate,  Brown,  Moore,  Withington,  Ra- 
mousin,  Gianople,  Brownlow  and  Dickson  were  all  good 
actors  and  reflected  credit  on  the  Association. 

There  were  but  few  better  amateur  performers  than  John 
S.  James.  His  conception  and  delineation  of  the  powerfully 
drawn  character  of  Pescara  in  The  Apostate,  equaled  and 
in  many  instances  surpassed  the  best  efforts  of  celebrated 
performers.  P.  W.  Fanning  played  the  old  man  with  such 
success  that  he  is  still  remembered  by  the  play-going  people  of 
those  days  as  that  "good  old  man,"  while  Sherwood,  with  his 
fine  figure  and  charming  voice,  bore  off  the  palm  in  genteel 
comedy. 

This  Association  after  a  time  met  the  fate  of  its  predeces- 
sors, and  the  theatre  remained  closed  until  about  the  year 
1846,  when  the  fourth  and  last  Association  was  organized. 
Its  first  president  was  Col.  James  T.  Miller ;  Daniel  MacRae 
was  secretary  and  treasurer ;  S.  R.  Ford,  stage  manager,  and 
Dr.  W.  W.  Harriss,  prompter.  On  the  roll  of  members  were 
the  names  of  Thomas  Sanford,  William  Hill,  Adam  Empie, 
E.  D.  Hall,  J.  G.  Burr,  E.  A.  Gushing,  John  C.  MacRae, 
John  R.  Reston,  John  J.  Hedrick,  T.  Burr,  jr.,  A.  O.  Brad- 
ley, John  Walker,  W.  W.  Harriss,  J.  T.  Watts,  J.  G.  Green, 
W.  H.  Lippitt,  John  L.  Meares,  D.  MacRae,  John  Cowan,  J. 
J.  Lippitt,  George  Harriss,  M.  London,  W.  A.  Burr,  R.  H. 
Cowan,  H.  W.  Burgwyn,  H.  P.  Russell,  E.  Cantwell,  J.  B. 
Russell,  W.  B.  Meares,  L.  H.  Pierce,  W.  D.  Cowan,  G.  L. 
Dudley,  R.  F.  Langdon,  E.  A.  Keith,  F.  IT.  Waddell,  J.  S. 
Williams,  Robert  Lindsay,  Wilkes  Morris,  Eli  W.  Hall,  W. 
M.  Harris,  S.  R.  Ford,  J.  T.  Miller,  A.  Martin,  S.  Jewett,  A. 
H.  Van  Bokkelen,  T.  C.  Mcllhenny,  F.  J.  Lord,  J.  A.  Baker, 
A.  M.  Waddell,  C.  D.  Myers,  F.  D.  Poisson,  J.  H.  Planner, 
DuBrutz  Cutlar,  E.  Savage,  Robert  Strange,  Wm.  Reston,  J. 


204  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

E,  London,  George  Myers,  Henry  Savage,  James  A.  Wright, 
O.  S.  Baldwin,  L.  H.  DeKosset,  J.  Hill  Wright. 

Of  the  merits  of  this  company,  says  Colonel  Burr,  it  may 
not  be  proper  for  us  to  speak,  as  so  many  of  its  members  are 
still  living  in  our  midst — suffice  it  to  say  that  in  ability  and 
histrionic  talent  it  was  fully  up  to  the  standard  of  the  pre- 
ceding associations.  After  much  labor  and  expense  in  re- 
pairing the  building,  many  delays,  disappointments,  and  dis- 
couragements, the  opening  night  at  length  arrived.  The 
play  was  The  Lady  of  Lyons,  the  afterpiece  'Tis  All  a  Farce, 
with  the  following  cast  of  characters : 

The  Lady  of  Lyons. 

Claud  Melnotte William  Hill 

Beauseant   A.  O.  Bradley 

Olavis   T.  Burr,  jr. 

Colonel  Dumas  R.  Lindsay 

Jaspar John  Walker 

Mons  Deschapelles  E.  A.  Keith 

Landlord  George  Harris 

First  Officer Donald  MacRae 

Second  Officer G.  L.  Dudley 

Madame  Deschapelles  W.  B.  Meares 

Pauline J.  T.  Watts 

Widow  Melnotte J.  J.  Lippitt 

'Tis  All  a  Farce. 

Numpo E.  D.  Hall 

Belgardo  A.  Empie 

Don  Gortes  M.  London 

Don  Testy  E.  A.  Gushing 

Carolina  J.  J.  Hedrick 

The  theatre  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity  with  a  bril- 
liant and  excited  audience,  for  to  add  to  the  interest  of  the 
occasion  the  names  of  the  debutants  of  popular  favor  had 
been  kept  a  profound  secret.  There  was  not  one  among 
them  who  had  ever  appeared  in  front  of  the  footlights,  and  the 
excitement  and  apprehension,  therefore,  behind  the  scenes, 
incident  to  a  first  appearance,  can  only  be  appreciated  by 
those  who  have  undergone  a  similar  ordeal.  The  perform- 
ance was  a  great  success,  each  actor  was  perfect  in  his  part 
and  remarkably  correct  in  the  delineation  of  the  character 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  205 

assumed.  The  machinery  of  the  stage,  that  most  vital  ad- 
junct to  the  success  of  all  theatrical  exhibitions,  was  admi- 
rably managed,  and  the  applause,  long  and  continued  at  the 
close  of  the  performance,  testified  in  language  too  plain  to  be 
misunderstood  the  hearty  approval  of  the  delighted  audience. 
Many  representations  followed  with  equal  success,  and  the 
Association  soon  became  a  permanent  institution  Allied,  as 
nearly  all  its  members  were  to  the  entire  community,  by  the 
ties  of  consanguinity  or  business  relations,  it  was  felt  that 
their  characters  were  sufScient  guaranty  that  nothing  would 
be  presented  that  would  shock  the  sensibility  of  the  modest  or 
wound  the  piety  of  the  devout.  The  Association  modestly  but 
confidently  appealed  to  the  public  for  generous  support. 
Need  we  say  how  such  an  appeal  was  responded  to  by  a  Wil- 
mington audience  ?  Their  well  known  liberality  was  be- 
stowed with  no  niggard  hand,  and  the  Association  flourished 
beyond  measure  and  became  immensely  popular. 

The  great  ability  displayed  by  the  members  of  this  last  As- 
sociation was  fully  recognized  tMcl  appreciated  by  all  classes 
of  society,  but  as  most  of  them  are  still  living  and  are  resi- 
dents of  our  city,  it  would  be  rather  indelicate  to  particular- 
ize, and  we  can  therefore  only  refer  to  them  in  general 
terms  of  commendation ;  but,  as  memory  brings  up  the  van- 
ished past  and  the  virtues  of  the  departed,  we  may  surely 
pause,  if  but  for  a  moment,  to  lay  a  few  mosses  upon  the 
mounds  of  some  of  those  who  joined  with  us  in  sportive  glee 
and  shared  alike  our  sorrows  and  our  joys. 

James  T.  Miller,  the  first  president  of  the  Association,  was 
very  active  and  instrumental  in  perfecting  the  organization, 
but  never  appeared  upon  the  stage.  He  took  great  interest 
in  its  success  and  was  always  very  busy  behind  the  scenes 
during  every  performance.  Mr.  Miller  became  quite  promi- 
nent as  a  party  leader,  served  in  the  House  of  Commons,  was 
mayor  of  the  town  and  also  Chairman  of  the  Court  of  Pleas 
and  Quarter  Sessions,  and  from  1854  till  his  death  was 
collector  of  customs.  Poor  Miller !  We  miss  thy  familiar 
form,  thy  pleasant  greeting,  thy  hearty  laugh,  thy  harmless 


206  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

idiosyncrasies;  we  miss  thee  from  the  favorite  spots  where 
friends  did  mostly  congregate  to  while  away  the  time  in 
pleasant  converse  and  innocent  amusement,  and  thou,  the 
centre  of  attraction,  making  all  merry  with  thy  playful  hu- 
mor. In  the  full  vigor  of  stalwart  manhood.  Miller  was 
struck  down  by  the  fearful  pestilence  of  1862,  and  our  city 
mourned  the  loss  of  a  most  useful,  most  popular,  and  most 
estimable  citizen. 

Eli  W.  Hall  was  an  admirable  light  comedian,  a  capital 
representative  of  humorous  characters  and  an  actor  of  great 
promise  and  versatility  of  talent.  He  sometimes  essayed  the 
higher  walks  of  tragedy,  commanding  the  attention  of  the 
audience  by  the  power  of  his  representations.  He  became  a 
lawyer  and  commanded  an  extensive  practice.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Senate  in  1860,  1862,  and  again  in  1864,  and 
won  fame  in  the  legislative  halls  as  a  ready  and  able  debater. 
He  possessed  a  brilliant  imagination  and  a  vivid  fancy  with  a 
wonderful  command  of  language,  and  few  men  could  address 
a  popular  assembly  with  m™  eloquence  and  effect.  He  was 
a  courteous,  honorable,  well-read  gentleman,  of  strict  integ- 
rity, entirely  devoid  of  ostentation  or  egotism,  and  justly 
popular  in  all  classes  of  society. 

Thomas  Sanford  was  the  oldest  member  of  the  Association, 
and  one  of  the  best  amateur  performers  that  ever  appeared  in 
Wilmington.  He  was  entirely  at  home  upon  the  stage;  his 
style  was  easy,  graceful,  and  natural,  and  his  voice,  of  re- 
markable power  and  compass,  never  failed  him  under 
any  circumstances.  He  had  had  much  experience  in  theatri- 
cals, for  in  early  youth  he  was  a  member  of  a  Thespian  Corps 
in  Philadelphia.  Edwin  Eorrest,  the  eminent  tragedian, 
was  also  a  member  of  the  same  company,  and  at  that  time 
Sanford  was  regarded  as  the  better  actor  of  the  two.  He  was 
the  star  of  the  Association,  always  appeared  in  leading 
characters,  and  his  appearance  in  any  character  and  on  any 
occasion  was  always  a  success. 

Talcott  Burr,  jr.,  not  only  excelled  in  genteel  comedy  but 
was  most  excellent  in  the  higher  branches  of  dramatic  art. 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  207 

Gifted  with  a  strong  and  discriminating  mind,  which  exten- 
sive reading  had  highly  improved  and  cultivated,  he  at  first 
devoted  himself  to  the  practice  of  law,  but  finding  it  unsuited 
to  his  taste  adopted  the  profession  of  a  public  journalist,  in 
which  so  many  men  have  risen  to  eminence  and  usefulness. 
John  R.  Reston — who  does  not  remember  and  who  did  not 
love  John  Eeston  ?  One  of  the  most  amiable,  kindhearted, 
generous  beings  that  ever  lived;  guileless  as  a  child,  a  crea- 
ture of  impulse  and  of  the  most  unsuspecting  generosity;  a 
friend  to  every  one  and  an  enemy  only  to  himself,  he  was 
never  so  happy  as  when  engaged  in  some  disinterested  act  of 
kindness  or  ministering  to  the  pleasure  of  others. 

ISTature  had  been  lavish  in  her  gifts  to  him.  'No  one  could 
be  in  his  company,  for  however  short  a  time,  without  feeling 
the  influence  of  his  rich  and  unctions  humor,  his  genial  bon- 
homie, his  entire  unselfishness,  and  not  admire,  also,  the  ex- 
hibition of  that  virtue  which  so  few  of  us  possess,  the  desire 
to  avoid,  even  in  the  slightest  degree,  anything  that  might 
give  pain  to  others.  He  had  a  fine  ear  for  music  and  sang 
with  wonderful  sweetness  and  expression ;  his  voice  was  not 
cultivated,  but  his  tone  was  singularly  soft  and  perfect,  like 
the  mournful  sighing  of  the  breeze  through  the  lofty  pines 
of  the  forest.  We  were  boys  together,  and  we  knew  him 
well;  "a  fellow  of  infinite  jest,  of  most  excellent  fancy,  whose 
flashes  of  merriment  were  wont  to  set  the  table  on  a  roar." 
Green  be  the  turf  above  and  lightly  may  it  rest  upon  him, 
for  the  earth  covers  not  a  heart  more  generous  nor  one  more 
entirely  unselfish. 

Dr.  Alfred  O.  Bradley  displayed  histrionic  talent  of  a  very 
high  order.  He  was  inimitable  as  Sir  Able  Handy j  most 
excellent  as  Max  HarJcaway,  in  London  Assurance,  and 
as  Beauseant  in  the  Lady  of  Lyons  was  decidedly  the  best 
representative  of  that  character  we  have  ever  seen  on  any 
stage.  In  the  beautiful  play.  Feudal  Times,  he  appeared 
as  Lord  Angus,  a  fiery  representative  of  the  haughty  Douglas, 
and  played  it  with  vehemence  and  power  that  astonished 
all  who  witnessed  the  performance. 


208  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

James  A.  Wright  was  one  of  the  most  youthful  members 
of  the  Association,  and  his  career  upon  the  stage,  though  very 
brief,  was  full  of  promise.  Few  men  in  our  State — few  men 
in  any  State  of  his  age — had  brighter  prospects  of  a  more 
brilliant  future.  Descended  from  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
influential  families  on  the  Cape  Fear,  he  inherited  in  large  de- 
gree the  virtues  for  which  they  have  always  been  so  justly 
distinguished.  Nature  had  been  kind  to  him,  and  education 
had  given  polish  and  brilliancy  to  the  jewels  with  which  he 
was  endowed  and  that  adorned  his  character.  But  alas !  for 
human  hopes  and  human  calculations.  The  dark  cloud  of  the 
War  between  the  States,  whose  mutterings  had  been  heard  for 
years,  at  length  burst  suddenly  upon  us,  and  the  State  called 
upon  her  sons  to  go  forth  and  battle  for  the  right.  He  was 
among  the  first  to  obey  the  call,  and  at  the  head  of  his  com- 
pany marched  to  Virginia  to  meet  the  hostile  invaders,  and  at 
Mechanicsville,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-six,  he  sealed  his 
devotion  to  his  country  with  his  heart's  blood. 

We  have  not  the  space  to  speak,  as  we  would  wish  to  do, 
of  the  merits  of  Gushing,  Hill,  Lippitt,  Cowan,  Pierce,  Wad- 
dell,  and  S.  Jewett.  They  played  well  their  parts  in  the 
world's  great  drama,  and  "after  life's  fitful  fever,  they  sleep 
well"  in  the  vast  and  silent  city  of  the  dead. 

This  Association  continued  to  occupy  and  use  the  theatre 
building  until  the  old  building  was  sold,  as  already  men- 
tioned. The  authorities  of  the  town  had  determined  upon 
the  erection  of  a  city  hall  on  the  site  of  the  old  academy  and 
purchased  the  property  for  that  purpose.  The  Association 
received  one-half  of  the  purchase  money.  Thalian  Hall  was 
the  result.  Mr.  Donald  MacEae  was  at  that  time  president  of 
the  Association,  and  to  his  energy,  perseverance,  and  acknowl- 
edged business  ability  are  we  indebted  for  the  beautiful  thea- 
tre which  reflects  so  much  credit  upon  our  city.  The  new 
building  was  leased  by  Mr.  Marchant,  a  well-known  theatrical 
manager,  and  opened  to  the  public  in  October,  1859.  The 
members  of  the  Association  had  now  grown  older  and  were 
more  averse  to  appearing  upon  the  stage,  and  the  organization 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  209 

found  itself  hampered  with  a  heavy  debt.  Under  all  these  cir- 
cumstances, a  proposition  was  made  to  the  authorities  of  the 
town  that  if  they  would  assume  the  responsibility  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, all  their  right,  title,  and  interest  in  that  part  of  the 
building  used  for  theatrical  purposes  would  be  surrendered. 
This  was  acceded  to — the  transfers  made  in  proper  form — 
and  the  Wilmington  Thalian  Association  as  a  theatrical  or- 
ganization ceased  to  exist. 

However,  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  before  its  dissolution, 
the  Wilmington  Thalian  Association  contributed  a  stone,  in- 
scribed with  its  name,  to  be  placed  in  the  monument  to  George 
Washington  in  Washington  City,  and  that  stone,  now  im- 
bedded in  the  monument  to  the  Father  of  his  Country,  per- 
petuates its  memory. 


ODD  CHARACTERS. 

By  James  G.  Burr. 

Like  other  communities,  Wilmington  had,  in  the  long  ago, 
many  singular  individuals  whose  idiosyncrasies  would  pro- 
voke a  smile  and  attract  attention.  I  can  mention  only  a  few. 
There  was  Dorsey,  the  rubicund-visaged  landlord  of  the  only 
inn  the  town  could  boast  of,  which  was  located  on  Front 
Street  on  the  site  since  occupied  by  the  Purcell  House,  where 
President  Washington  was  entertained  by  the  town  authori- 
ties when  on  his  visit  to  the  South;  McCarthy,  a  reckless, 
impulsive  Irishman,  who  would  contend  vehemently  with 
any  one  who  would  listen  to  him  that  there  was  a  material 
difference  in  the  expression,  "McCarthy,  come  out,"  and 
"Come  out,  McCarthy";  Sir  Charles  J.  Paschal,  Baronet, 
his  Britannic  Majesty's  Consul  for  iN'orth  Carolina,  who  had 
been  wounded  in  the  throat  at  the  Battle  of  Waterloo,  which 
rendered  his  articulation  so  indistinct  that  he  could  scarcely 
be  understood.  Sir  Charles  was  extremely  fond  of  hunting, 
and  to  gratify  his  fancy  in  that  respect,  purchased  the  prop- 
erty on  Wrightsville  Sound  now  known  as  the  Ellis  place, 
and  had  every  door  and  window  shutter  painted  a  fiery  red 


210  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

color.  He  died  here  in  1834.  There  were  Wm.  C.  Jackson, 
the  silent  man,  who  seldom  smiled  and  was  never  known  to 
laugh  aloud,  and  who  had  not  sufficient  curiosity  to  visit 
the  railroad  when  it  was  being  built  and  died  without  ever 
having  seen  it;  Peter  Torlay,  a  mercurial  Frenchman,  who 
dealt  in  toys  and  drew  customers  to  his  shop  by  his  skill  on 
the  violin,  which  he  loved  better  than  he  did  his  wife; 
Jolly  Marmijohn,  who  dealt  in  fruits  and  candies,  and  had 
a  pretty  daughter,  and  I  know  not  which  was  the  greater 
favorite  with  the  boys,  his  sugarplums,  or  the  little  one 
with  that  naughty  dimple  in  her  cheek,  those  keen,  bright, 
laughing  eyes,  and  that  wealth  of  soft,  brown  hair  which 
shone  like  gold  in  the  sunlight ;  Manning,  fresh  from  the 
Emerald  Isle,  with  the  richest  brogue  imaginable,  but  who 
prided  himself  upon  his  knowledge  of  the  English  language, 
and  his  ability  to  pronounce  the  "th"  equal  to  any  native. 
When  asked  to  pronounce  "Thurber,"  "Northrop"  and  "thun- 
der," he  would  shout  out  "Turber,"  ISTortrop"  and  "tunder," 
with  the  utmost  self-complacency.  I  turn  from  these  to  refer 
for  a  moment  only  with  just  pride  to  a  few  "native  and  to 
the  manner  born,"  whose  character  and  attainments  would 
shed  lustre  upon  any  community.  Those  saintly  men  of  God, 
Bishops  Thomas  F.  Davis  and  William  Mercer  Green,  around 
whose  daily  walk  in  life  there  breathed  an  atmosphere  of 
holiness  and  love,  and  whose  example  adorned  and  beautified 
our  common  humanity ;  Lieut.  Wm.  Henry  Wright,  one  of  the 
most  accomplished  civil  engineers  in  the  United  States  serv- 
ice, whose  treatise  on  mortars  is  still  recognized  by  the  Engi- 
neer Corps  as  standard  authority ;  John  A.  Winslow,  of  Kear- 
sarge  and  Alabama  fame;  Archibald  MacRae,  whose  supe- 
riority at  his  examination  for  admission  into  the  ISTavy  was 
so  pronounced  as  to  distance  all  competitors  for  the  highest 
honors  of  his  class ;  Eobert  Savage,  of  the  same  service,  who 
was  entitled  to  the  first  distinction,  but  lost  it  by  a  quibble; 
Wm.  E.  Boudinot,  second  to  none  of  his  compeers  in  practical 
seamanship    and    scientific    attainments;    Augustus    Foster 


•!►■ 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  211 

Lyde,  whose  talents  were  of  the  highest  order,  and  who  was 
the  first  clergyman  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States  to  offer  himself  as  a  missionary  to  China,  but 
who  died  at  an  early  age  while  busily  engaged  preparing  for 
his  mission  to  that  then  unknown  field  of  labor.  All  these 
were  natives  of  the  town,  then  obscure,  which  has  since  be- 
come known  as  the  City  of  Wilmington. 

As  illustrative  of  the  primitive  habits  of  our  people,  and  as 
an  evidence  also  of  their  general  good  morals,  I  will  state 
that  the  entire  police  force  of  the  town,  or  town  guard,  as 
they  were  then  called,  consisted  of  six  policemen,  who  were  on 
duty  only  at  night,  and  a  constable.  The  late  Maj.  J.  A. 
Lillington  was  town  clerk,  and  the  mention  of  his  name  re- 
calls to  my  mind  a  scene  I  witnessed  (I  will  not  say  how  many 
years  ago)  between  him  and  some  of  the  police  force  of  the 
town.  The  Major  was  an  uncommonly  portly  gentleman, 
and  like  the  famed  John  Gilpin  carried  weight  to  the  extent 
of  at  least  three  hundred  pounds.  It  was  an  intensely  hot 
day  in  August,  the  thermometer  running  high  up  into  the 
nineties.  The  monthly  pay  of  the  guard  was  due,  but  there 
were  no  funds  in  the  treasury.  Four  of  the  six  policemen 
bore  the  euphonious  name  of  Skipper,  and  were  clamorous 
for  their  pay.  They  dogged  the  Major  from  square  to  square, 
and  clung  like  sleuth  hounds  to  his  heels  as  he  traversed  the 
streets  in  various  directions,  striving  to  make  arrangements 
to  meet  their  demands.  Panting  with  the  heat,  the  perspira- 
tion pouring  from  him  like  water,  and  exhausted  by  his  un- 
wonted exercise,  he  rushed  into  a  store,  where  a  youth  was 
engaged  at  the  moment  removing  some  tainted  bacon,  the 
four  Skippers  close  at  his  back,  and,  sinking  into  a  chair,  ex- 
claimed, as  he  glared  upon  his  tormentors,  "By  George, 
sonny,  this  weather  is  hot  enough  to  make  skippers  in  any 
meat,  ain't  it?"  He  had  his  joke;  and  the  Skippers  got 
their  pay. 

The  impressions  made  upon  the  mind  in  childhood  and 
youth  are  always  the  most  vivid  and  enduring,  and  though 
15 


212  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

in  the  daily  pursuits  of  life,  in  the  arduous  struggle  for 
success  and  the  jarring  conflicts  of  adverse  elements,  those  im- 
pressions may  for  a  time  be  obscured  or  forgotten,  yet  they 
are  never  lost.  As  age  creeps  upon  us  and  we  live  in  recol- 
lection more  than  we  do  in  hope,  that  longing  for  the  past 
of  our  boyhood  cleaves  to  us  all.  Our  thoughts  fly  backward 
to  the  scenes  and  associations  of  our  youth  and  fasten  them- 
selves upon  them  with  a  longing  that  nothing  else  can  satisfy. 
The  present  and  the  future  are  alike  unheeded,  for  our  yearn- 
ing hearts  centre  only  upon  the  days  that  have  faded  into 
the  distance.  At  such  moments,  incidents  the  most  trivial 
will  excite  emotions  to  which  we  have  long  been  strangers — 
a  withered  leaf,  a  strip  of  faded  ribbon  that  bound  the  ring- 
lets of  a  lost  and  loved  one,  a  line  traced  by  a  hand  long 
mouldered  into  dust,  a  little  word  in  kindness  spoken,  a  mo- 
tion or  a  tear,  will  evoke  recollections  that  genius  cannot  trace 
or  inspiration  fathom. 

x--'  This  train  of  thought  has  been  excited  by  finding  in  a 
package  of  old  papers  that  had  long  lain  hid,  some  lines 
written  many,  many  years  ago  by  one  who  has  long  since 
passed  to  his  rest,  Johnson  Hooper,  a  Wilmington  boy.  He 
was  the  son  of  Archibald  Maclaine  Hooper,  one  of  the  most 
accomplished  scholars  of  his  day,  who  edited  for  a  number 
of  years  the  Cape  Fear  Recorder,  the  only  newspaper  pub- 
lished in  "Wilmington  for  a  long  period.  He  was  a  near  rela- 
tive of  Wm.  Hooper,  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.  The  family  removed  to  Montgomery,  Ala., 
where  Johnson  became  connected  with  the  Montgomery  Mail, 
a  newspaper  of  extensive  circulation  and  great  influence.  He 
found  time,  however,  from  his  arduous  duties  to  indulge  his 
humorous  fancies,  and  while  connected  with  that  paper,  gave 
the  world  several  humorous  works  of  great  merit,  viz..  Tak- 
ing the  Census,  Captain  Simon  Suggs,  and  others  which  gave 
him  rank  among  the  best  humorous  writers  of  the  day.  He 
died  in  Richmond,  Va.,  shortly  after  the  transfer  of  the  Con- 
federate Government  to  that  city. 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  213 

Nearly,  if  not  quite  eighty  years  ago,  an  Englishman,  Mr. 
Anthony  Milan,  was  British  Consul  at  the  port  of  Wilming- 
ton. He  was  an  educated  gentleman,  but  possessed  certain 
peculiarities  to  an  unusual  and  disagreeable  extent,  was 
dogmatic  and  overbearing  in  disposition,  and  exhibited  con- 
tinuously a  haughty,  aristocratic  bearing,  which  he  took  no 
pains  to  conceal.  His  "personal  pulchritude"  was  immense, 
but  he  was  always  scrupulously  neat  in  his  attire,  wearing 
fine  broadcloth  and  ruffled  shirts  of  spotless  whiteness.  A 
gold-framed  eyeglass  dangled  from  a  ribbon  around  his  neck 
and  was  conspicuously  displayed  upon  his  breast,  while  a 
number  of  massive  gold  seals  hung  pendant  from  his  watch 
fob.  He  was  altogether  English,  haughty  and  presumptuous, 
with  a  growl  at  everything  and  at  almost  everybody,  and 
could  not  tolerate  democracy  in  any  form. 

About  that  time  a  ship  had  been  built  at  the  southern  ex- 
tremity of  the  town,  and  the  day  appointed  for  the  launching 
had  arrived.  As  the  building  of  a  ship  in  those  days  was 
quite  an  event  in  the  history  of  the  town,  almost  the  entire 
population  turned  out  to  witness  the  launching,  and  an  im- 
mense crowd  gathered  on  the  wharves  and  the  surrounding 
hills.  Of  course,  the  British  Consul  was  there  in  full  dress. 
The  tide  unfortunately  was  too  low  at  the  time  for  the  ship 
to  float  when  she  left  the  ways ;  she  grounded,  and  just  then 
Mr.  Milan,  by  some  accident,  fell  overboard,  but  was  quickly 
hooked  up  out  of  the  river  all  dripping  wet,  with  his  bald 
head  glistening  in  the  sun  like  burnished  gold.  He  was  not 
at  all  injured  by  his  involuntary  ducking,  but  excessively 
chagrined.  Of  course,  the  boys  were  delighted,  for  he  was 
exceedingly  unpopular  with  them,  and  the  next  day  Johnson 
Hooper,  one  of  the  youngsters,  produced  the  following  lines, 
which  exhibit,  even  at  that  early  age,  his  playful  fancies. 

Anthoits-  Milan's  Launch. 

Ye  who  pretend  to  disbelieve 

In  fixed  degrees  of  fate, 
Give,  I  beseech  you,  listening  ear 

To  what  I  now  relate. 


214  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

It  is  about  the  launching  of 

A  stately  ship  I  tell. 
And  of  a  fearful  accident 

That  then  and  there  befell 

To  one  well  known  to  all  in  town, 

A  man  of  portly  size. 
Who  carries  watch  seals  in  his  fob 

And  glasses  in  his  eyes. 

He  holds  a  high  position  from 

His  Majesty  Britannic, 
And  claims  to  be  a  member 

Of  the  breed  aristocratic. 

He  looks  with  sovereign  contempt 

On  those  whose  daily  toil 
Brings  out  in  rich  abundance 

The  products  of  the  soil. 

He  does  not  care  a  pin  for  him 
Who  weareth  not  fine  clothes, 

And  he  uses  linen  cambric 
With  which  to  wipe  his  nose. 

He  has  no  need  for  comb  or  brush, 
For  his  cheeks  are  rosy  red. 

And  a  microscopic  lens  can  find 
No  hair  upon  his  head. 

His  boots  are  always  polished  bright, 

His  beaver  sleek  as  silk. 
His  ruffled  shirt  is  clean  and  white 

As  a  bowl  of  new-skimmed  milk. 

But  to  our  fate — the  morning  sun 
Shone  bright  upon  that  day. 

When  all  our  people  through  the  streets 
Most  gaily  took  their  way. 

Down  to  the  docks,  where  on  the  stocks 
The  gallant  ship  was  seen, 

Decked  out  in  brilliant  colors 
Of  blue  and  red  and  green. 

A  monstrous  crowd  was  gathered  there. 

In  feverish  excitement, 
To  see  the  ship  glide  off  the  ways 

Into  the  watery  element. 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  215 

The  British  Consul  with  his  glass 

Stuck  in  his  nether  eye. 
Was  there  in  force,  for  could  the  ship 

Be  launched,  and  he  not  by? 

She  starts,  she's  off,  a  shout  went  up 

In  one  tumultuous  roar. 
That  rolled  o'er  Eagles  Island  and 

Was  heard  on  Brunswick  shore. 

Full  royally  the  ship  slid  down 

Towards  the  foaming  tide, 
While  cheer  on  cheer  from  every  lip 

Went  up  on  every  side. 

She  passed  along  towards  the  stream, 

Majestically  grand — 
When  suddenly  she  stopped.     Alas! 

She  grounded  in  the  sand. 

And  there  she  would  have  always  stuck 

And  never  more  have  stirred. 
Had  not  the  scene  I  now  relate 

Most  happily  occurred. 

Just  at  that  moment  when  she  stopped, 

With  many  a  shake  and  shiver. 
The  pompous  British  Consul  slipped 

And  tumbled  in  the  river. 

The  Cape  Fear  rose  three  feet  or  more 

As  Anthony  went  under, 
The  waves  they  beat  upon  the  shore 

In  peals  of  living  thunder. 

The  ship  was  lifted  from  the  sand. 

And  like  the  lightning's  gleam. 
She  glided  out  into  the  deep. 

And  floated  in  the  stream. 

"All  honor  then  to  Anthony!" 

Was  heard  on  every  side. 
And  should  we  build  another  ship 

And  scant  should  be  the  tide. 

May  he  be  there,  and  gently  drop 

His  carcass  in  the  sea; 
That  ship  will  float,  it  matters  not 

How  low  the  tide  may  be. 


216  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

JOE  JEFFERSON. 

^,  (Autobiography  of  Joseph  Jefferson.) 

After  mentioning  that  he  had  engaged  Sir  William  Don,  an 
English  nobleman,  six  feet  six  inches  high,  a  comedian,  Jef- 
ferson wrote : 

"Sir  William  went  with  us  to  Wilmington,  North  Carolina, 
where  we  opened  with  the  stock,  he  appearing  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  second  week.  The  audience  here  did  not  like  his 
acting;  they  seemed  to  prefer  our  domestic  goods  to  the  im- 
ported article.  He  saw  this,  but  did  not  seem  to  mind  it,  and 
so  bowed  to  the  situation.  He  became  very  much  attached 
to  the  company  and  remained  with  us  some  time,  joining  in 
our  fishing  and  boating  parties.  His  animal  spirits  were 
contagious;  and  as  we  had  no  rehearsals,  the  mornings  at 
least  were  devoted  to  amusement.  We  would  do  the  most 
boyish  and  ridiculous  things.  Three  or  four  of  us,  himself 
the  central  figure,  would  go  through  extravagant  imitations 
of  the  circus  and  acrobatic  feats  that  were  then  in  vogue. 
The  Bounding  Brothers  of  the  Pyrenees  was  a  particular 
favorite  with  him.  We  would  pretend  to  execute  the  most 
dangerous  feats  of  strength — lifting  imaginary  weights, 
climbing  on  one  another's  shoulders,  and  then  falling  down 
in  grotesque  and  awkward  attitudes,  and  suddenly  straighten- 
ing up,  and  bowing  with  mock  dignity  to  an  imaginary  au- 
dience. Once  he  did  an  act  called  The  Sprite  of  the  Silver 
Shower^  pretending  to  be  a  little  girl,  and  tripping  into  the 
circus  ring  with  a  mincing  step.  Then,  with  a  shy  look,  he 
would  put  his  finger  in  his  mouth,  and  mounting  a  table  would 
go  through  a  daring  bareback  feat.  Nothing  that  I  ever  saw 
was  more  extravagant.     *     *     * 

"The  next  fall,  1852,  we  resolved  to  make  another  trial  of 
our  fortunes  in  the  Southern  circuit.  Our  limited  means 
compelled  us  to  adopt  the  most  economical  mode  of  transpor- 
tation for  the  company.  It  was  settled,  therefore,  that  we, 
the  managers,  should  arrive  at  least  a  week  in  advance  of  the 
opening  season ;  our  passage  must  be  by  rail,  while  the  com- 


NOTABLE  INCIDENTS  217 

pany  were  to  proceed  by  sea.  There  was  in  those  days  a  line 
of  schooners  that  plied  between  Wilmington,  N.  C,  and  'New 
York.  The  articles  of  transportation  from  the  South  con- 
sisted mainly  of  yellow  pine,  tar,  and  resin,  which  cargo  was 
denominated  'naval  stores.'  Feeling  confident  that  we  could 
procure  passage  for  our  company  by  contracting  with  one  of 
these  vessels  to  take  them  to  Wilmington,  we  determined  to 
conclude  a  bargain  with  the  owners.  The  day  was  fixed  for 
their  departure,  and  Mr.  Ellsler  and  I  went  down  to  the 
wharf  at  Peck  Slip  to  see  them  off.  It  was  an  ill-shaped  hulk, 
with  two  great,  badly  repaired  sails  flapping  against  her 
clumsy  and  foreboding  masts.  The  deck  and  sides  were 
besmeared  with  the  sticky  remnants  of  her  last  importation, 
so  that  when  our  leading  actor,  who  had  been  seated  on  the 
taffrail,  arose  to  greet  his  managers,  he  was  unavoidably 
detained.  There  was  handsome  John  Crocher,  our  juvenile 
actor,  leaning  with  folded  arms  and  a  rueful  face  against  an 
adhesive  mast ;  Mrs.  Ray,  the  first  old  woman,  with  an  um- 
brella in  one  hand  and  a  late  dramatic  paper  in  the  other, 
sitting  on  a  coil  of  rope,  and  unconsciously  ruining  her  best 
black  dress,  etc.,  etc.,  etc.  It  was  a  doleful  picture.  Our  sec- 
ond comedian,  who  was  the  reverse  of  being  droll  on  the  stage^ 
but  who  now  and  then  ventured  on  a  grim  joke  off  it  with  bet- 
ter success,  told  me  in  confidence  that  they  all  had  been  la- 
menting their  ill-tarred  fate.  As  we  watched  the  wretched  old 
craft  being  towed  away  to  sea,  we  concluded  that  we  should 
never  forgive  ourselves  if  our  comrades  were  never  heard  of 
again.  On  our  arrival  in  Wilmington  the  days  were  spent 
in  preparing  the  dusty  old  rat-trap  of  a  theatre  for  the  open- 
ing, and  our  nights  in  wondering  if  our  party  were  safe.  The 
uneasiness  was  not  lessened,  either,  by  the  news  that  there 
had  been  bad  weather  off  Hatteras.  Within  a  week,  however, 
they  arrived,  looking  jaded  and  miserable.  Another  week 
for  rest  and  rehearsal,  and  our  labors  began. 

"Comedy  and  tragedy  were  dished  up,  and  I  may  say, 
hashed  up,  alternately,  as  for  instance,  Monday,  Colman'a 


218  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

comedy  of  The  Poor  GentJemnn,  fancy  dances  by  the  sou- 
brette,  comic  songs  by  the  second  comedian,  concluding  with 
the  farce  of  The  Spectre  Bridegroom.  The  next  evening  we 
gave  Romeo  and  Juliet.  I  felt  that  the  balcony  scene  should 
have  some  attention,  and  I  conceived  a  simple  and  economical 
idea  that  would  enable  me  to  produce  the  effect  in  a  manner 
'hitherto  unparalleled  in  the  annals  of  the  stage.'  Skir- 
mishing about  the  wharves  and  the  ship-chandlers,  I  chanced 
to  light  upon  a  job  lot  of  empty  candle  boxes.  By  taking  a 
quantity  the  cardboards  were  thrown  in,  and  nothing  makes 
a  finer  or  ipore  imposing  but  unsubstantial  balustrade  than 
cardboard.  The  boxes,  placed  one  by  one  on  top  of  each 
other  and  painted  a  neat  stone  color,  form  a  pleasing  archi- 
tectural pile.  The  scene  opened  with  a  backing  of  something 
supposed  to  represent  the  distant  city  of  Verona,  with  my  new 
balcony  in  the  foreground.  All  seemed  to  be  going  well  till 
presently  there  came  the  sound  of  half-suppressed  laughter 
from  the  audience.  The  laughter  increased,  till  at  last  the 
whole  house  had  discovered  the  mishap.  Juliet  retreated  in 
amazement,  and  Romeo  rushed  off  in  despair,  and  down  came 
the  curtain.  I  rushed  upon  the  stage  to  find  out  what  had 
occurred,  when  to  my  horror  I  discovered  that  one  of  the 
boxes  had  been  placed  with  the  unpainted  side  out,  on  which 
was  emblazoned  a  semicircular  trade  mark,  setting  forth  that 
the  very  cornerstone  of  Juliet's  balcony  contained  twenty 
pounds  of  the  best  'short  sixes.'  " 


The  War  Between  the  States 

OE"  THE  EVE  OF  SECESSIOK 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Mrs.  Parsley,  whose  husband, 
Col.  William  M.  Parsley,  of  Wilmington,  gave  his  bril- 
liant young  life  to  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy,  I  include 
as  worthy  of  all  honor  the  following  narrative,  to  which  her 
well-known  devotion  as  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Ladies' 
Memorial  Society  and  as  President  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
Confederacy  gives  added  authority  and  interest : 

"In  1861,  when,  amid  great  popular  excitement  and  en- 
thusiasm, South  Carolina  seceded  from  the  Union  of  States 
the  people  of  Wilmington  were  deeply  stirred  by  conflicting 
emotions.  Meetings  were  held  at  various  local  points,  and 
speakers  for  and  against  secession  swayed  the  multitudes 
which  attended  them.  At  a  town  meeting,  an  address  by  Dr. 
James  H.  Dickson,  urging  moderation  and  advising  against 
hasty  action  as  to  secession,  was  regarded  with  close  atten- 
tion and  respect,  for  Doctor  Dickson  was  a  man  universally 
trusted  and  beloved,  and  one  of  the  foremost  to  act  in  any 
movement  for  the  welfare  of  Wilmington. 

"His  speech  was  followed  by  one  from  Mr.  0.  P.  Meares, 
afterwards  a  colonel  in  the  Confederate  Army,  and  later  a 
judge.  He  was  an  ardent  secessionist  and  a  fiery  speaker, 
and  the  younger  element  was  carried  away  by  his  eloquence, 
but  the  older  citizens,  devoted  to  the  Union,  were  loath  to 
break  the  bonds,  and  the  community  seemed  equally  divided 
until  Mr.  George  Davis  returned  from  the  Peace  Conference 
in  Washington  City,  with  his  full  account  of  the  utter  failure 
to  arrive  at  an  agreement,  and  gave  as  his  judgment  that  the 
Union  could  only  be  preserved  with  dishonor  to  the  South. 
The  immense  crowd  gathered  in  the  Opera  House  received 
his  words  in  profound  silence,  as  though  the  speaker's  judg- 
ment settled  that  of  each  one  who  heard  him." 


220  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Me.  Geoege  Davis. 

In  a  memorial  of  this  beloved  leader  of  the  lower  Cape 
Fear  the  writer,  whose  affectionate  admiration  has  continued 
with  increasing  veneration,  said  for  his  committee,  on  the 
occasion  of  a  large  assembly  of  representative  citizens  to 
honor  Mr.  Davis'  memory  by  suitable  resolutions  of  respect: 

"In  1861  the  shadow  of  a  great  national  calamity  appeared 
— the  whole  country  was  convulsed  with  conflicting  emotions. 
The  political  leaders  of  North  Carolina  were  divided  upon 
the  issue.  Mr.  Davis  loved  the  Union,  and  steadfastly  coun- 
seled moderation.  His  appointment  by  Governor  Ellis  as  a 
member  of  the  Peace  Commission,  to  which  further  reference 
is  made,  created  a  feeling  of  absolute  confidence  in  the  minds 
of  the  conservative  citizens. 

"The  desire  of  the  people  of  ITorth  Carolina  was  to  see 
peace  maintained,  whether  the  Union  was  preserved  or  not, 
and  for  this  purpose  the  Legislature  on  January  26,  1861,  ap- 
pointed Commissioners  to  conventions  to  be  held  at  Montgom- 
ery, Alabama,  and  Washington  City.  These  Commission- 
ers were  Hon.  Thomas  Euffin,  Hon.  D.  M.  Barringer,  Hon. 
David  S.  Reid,  Hon.  John  M.  Morehead,  Hon.  D.  L.  Swain, 
J.  R.  Bridgers,  M.  W.  Ransom,  and  George  Davis.  Mr. 
Davis  went  to  Washington  City  as  a  member  of  the  Peace 
Congress  which  assembled  on  February  4,  1861.  The  moral 
weight  of  the  position  and  the  character  of  the  gentlemen  then 
and  there  assembled  gave  to  the  significance  of  the  occasion 
portentous  aspects.  The  Congress  sat  with  closed  doors ;  ex- 
President  Tyler  was  elected  President,  and  on  taking  the 
chair  made  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and  patriotic  speeches 
ever  heard.  This  Conference  was  in  session  until  February 
27,  1861,  when  Mr.  Davis  telegraphed:  'The  Convention 
has  just  adjourned  sine  die,  after  passing  seven  articles  of  the 
report  of  the  committee,  much  weakened.  The  territorial 
articles  passed  by  a  majority  of  one  vote.  IvTorth  Carolina 
and  Virginia  voted  against  every  article  but  one.'  " 

"It  is  difficult  for  those  of  us  who  remember  only  the  in- 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  221 

tense  unanimity  of  the  Southern  people  after  the  war  was 
fairly  inaugurated  to  realize  how  in  those  previous  troublous 
days  the  minds  of  men  were  perplexed  by  doubts.  Up  to  this 
time  the  Union  sentiment  in  N"orth  Carolina  had  been  in 
the  ascendant.  The  people  waited  upon  the  result  of  this 
Congress,  and  in  this  section  especially  was  the  decision  of 
many  reserved  until  Mr.  Davis  should  declare  his  final  con- 
victions. His  announcement  of  them  marked  an  epoch  in  his 
life,  and  in  the  lives  of  countless  others,  for  weal  or  woe." 

Immediately  upon  his  return  home,  the  following  corre- 
spondence took  place : 

Wilmington,  2d  March,  1861. 
Dear    Sir: — Your    friends    and    fellow    citizens    are    exceedingly 
anxious  to  hear  from  you  with  reference  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
Peace  Congress,  and  to  have  your  opinion  as  to  their  probable  effect 
in  settling  the  distracting  questions  of  the  day. 

Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  give  them  a  public  address  at  such 
time  as  may  suit  your  convenience? 

Respectfully  yours, 

James  H.  Dickson. 
Robert  H.  Cowan. 
D.  A.  Lamont. 
Thomas  Miller. 
Donald   MacRae. 
Robert  G.  Rankin. 
James  H.  Chadbourn. 
A.  H.  VanBokkelen. 
To  George  Davis,  Esq.  O.  G.  Parsley. 

Wilmington,  2d  March,  1861. 
Gentlemen: — Being  under  the  necessity  of  leaving  home  to-mor- 
row, I  will  comply  with  the  request  of  my  fellow-citizens,  as  inti- 
mated in  your  note,  by  addressing  them  at  such  hour  and  place  this 
evening  as  you  may  appoint. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Geo.  Davis. 
To  Dr.  Jas.  H.  Dickson,  and  others. 

The  newspaper  reports  of  the  public  meeting  and  of  Mr. 
Davis'  powerful  speech  which  followed  do  not  convey  to  our 
minds  the  overwhelming  sensations  of  those  who  listened  to 
this  masterpiece  of  oratory.  Mr.  Davis  was  obliged  to  close 
before  he  had  finished  his  address.  The  people  were  pro- 
foundly moved,  the  hearts  of  all  were  deeply  stirred.    Many 


222  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

left  the  hall  while  he  was  speaking,  for  they  could  not  restrain 
their  emotion. 

The  Daily  Journal  of  March  4,  1861,  said:  "In  accord- 
ance with  the  general  desire,  George  Davis,  Esq.,  addressed 
his  fellow-citizens  on  last  Saturday,  March  2d,  at  the  Thalian 
Hall  in  reference  to  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Peace  Con- 
gress, of  which  he  was  a  member,  giving  his  opinion  as  to 
the  probable  effect  of  such  proceedings  in  settling  the  distract- 
ing questions  of  the  day.  Although  the  notice  was  very  brief, 
having  only  appeared  at  midday  in  the  town  papers,  the  Hall 
was  densely  crowded  by  an  eager  and  attentive  audience, 
among  whom  were  many  ladies."  The  report  of  the  speech 
is  very  full,  and  deals  with  all  the  vital  questions  which  were 
discussed  at  the  Peace  Congress.  Mr,  Davis  said  that  "he 
shrunk  from  no  criticism  upon  his  course,  but,  indeed,  in- 
vited and  sought  for  it  the  most  rigid  examination.  He  had 
endeavored  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  trust  imposed  in 
him  faithfully,  manfully,  and  conscientiously,  and  whatever 
might  be  thought  of  his  policy,  he  felt  that  he  had  a  right  to 
demand  the  highest  respect  for  the  motives  which  actuated 
him  in  pursuing  that  policy." 

Referring  to  his  own  previous  position,  what  he  believed 
to  be  the  position  of  the  State,  the  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
appointing  Commissioners,  and  the  objections  to  the  action 
of  the  Peace  Congress,  Mr.  Davis  said  he  had  gone  to  the 
Peace  Congress  to  exhaust  every  honorable  means  to  obtain 
a  fair,  an  honorable,  and  a  final  settlement  of  existing  diffi"- 
culties.  He  had  done  so  to  the  best  of  his  abilities,  and  had 
been  unsuccessful,  for  he  could  never  accept  the  plan  adopted 
by  the  Peace  Congress  as  consistent  with  the  right,  the  inter- 
ests, or  the  dignity  of  North  Carolina. 

Mr.  Davis  concluded  by  emphatically  declaring  that  "the 
South  could  never — never  obtain  any  better  or  more  satisfac- 
tory terms  while  she  remained  in  the  Union,  and  for  his  part 
he  could  never  assent  to  the  terms  contained  in  this  report 
of  the  Peace  Congress  as  in  accordance  with  the  honor  or 
the  interests  of  the  South." 


THE  ^VAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  223 

When  Mr.  Davis  had  concluded  Hon.  S.  J.  Person  moved 
that  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  be  tendered  to  him  for 
the  able,  manly,  and  patriotic  manner  in  which  he  had  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  his  position  as  a  commissioner  from 
North  Carolina.    The  motion  was  enthusiastically  carried. 

On  June  18,  1861,  Mr.  Davis  and  Mr.  W.  W.  Avery  were 
elected  Senators  to  the  Confederate  Congress  from  the  State 
of  K'orth  Carolina.  In  alluding  to  his  election  the  Journal, 
the  organ  of  the  Democratic  party  in  this  section,  said : 

"Mr.  Davis,  in  old  party  times,  was  an  ardent  and  con- 
sistent member  of  the  opposition,  and  was  opposed  to  a  sever- 
ance from  the  E'orth  until  he  felt  satisfied  by  the  result  of 
the  Peace  Conference  that  all  peaceful  means  had  been  ex- 
hausted." In  1862  he,  with  W.  T.  Dortch,  was  again  elected 
Senator  by  the  legislature. 

In  January,  1864,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Davis 
Attorney  General  in  his  Cabinet.  The  commission  bears  date 
of  January  4,  1864. 

The  high  esteem  in  which  Mr.  George  Davis  was  held  by 
his  devoted  chief  is  attested  in  the  following  letters  addressed 
by  the  Confederate  President  to  his  faithful  Attorney  Gen- 
eral after  the  evacuation  of  Richmond : 

Chablotte,  N.  C,  25th  April,  1865. 

Hon.  Geo.  Davis,  C.  8.  Attorney  General. 

My  Dear  Sir:— I  have  no  hesitation  in  expressing  to  you  my 
opinion  that  there  is  no  obligation  of  honor  which  requires  you, 
under  existing  circumstances,  to  retain  your  present  office.  It  is 
gratifying  to  me  to  be  assured  that  you  are  willing,  at  any  personal 
sacrifice,  to  share  my  fortunes  when  they  are  least  promising,  and 
that  you  only  desire  to  know  whether  you  can  aid  me  in  this  perilous 
hour  to  overcome  surrounding  difficulties.  It  is  due  to  such 
generous  friendship  that  I  should  candidly  say  to  you  that  it  is  not 
probable  for  some  time  to  come  your  services  will  be  needful. 

It  is  with  sincere  regret  that  I  look  forward  to  being  separated 
from  you.  Your  advice  has  been  to  me  both  useful  and  cheering. 
The  Christian  spirit  which  has  ever  pervaded  your  suggestions,  not 
less  than  the  patriotism  which  has  marked  your  conduct,  will  be 
remembered  by  me  when  in  future  trials  I  may  have  need  for  both. 

Should  you  decide  (my  condition  having  become  rather  that  of  a 
soldier  than  a  civil  magistrate)    to  retire   from  my  Cabinet,  my 


224  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

sincere  wishes  for  your  welfare  and  happiness  will  follow  you;  and  I 
trust  a  merciful  Providence  may  have  better  days  in  store  for  the 
Confederacy,  and  that  we  may  hereafter  meet,  when,  our  country's 
independence  being  secured,  it  will  be  sweet  to  remember  how  we 
have  suffered  together  in  the  time  of  her  sorest  trial. 

Very  respectfully  and  truly  your  friend, 

Jefferson  Davis. 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  April  26,  1865. 
Hon.  Geo.  Davis,  C.  8.  Attorney  General. 

My  Dear  Sir: — Your  letter  dated  yesterday,  tendering  your  res- 
ignation has  been  received.  While  I  regret  the  causes  which 
compel  you  to  this  course,  I  am  well  assured  that  your  conduct  now, 
as  heretofore,  is  governed  by  the  highest  and  most  honorable  motives. 
In  accepting  your  resignation,  as  I  feel  constrained  to  do,  allow  me  to 
thank  you  for  the  important  assistance  you  have  rendered  in  the 
administration  of  the  Government,  and  for  the  patriotic  zeal  and 
acknowledged  ability  with  which  you  have  discharged  your  trust. 

Accept  my  thanks,  also,  for  your  expressions  of  personal  regard 
and  esteem,  and  the  assurance  that  those  feelings  are  warmly  recip- 
rocated by  me. 

With  the  hope  that  the  blessings  of  Heaven  may  attend  you  and 
yours, 

I  am,  most  cordially  your  friend,  Jefferson  Davis. 

This  affectionate  regard  for  the  beloved  leader  of  the  Cape 
Fear  was  the  subject  of  repeated  conversations  in  late  years 
between  the  writer  of  these  Chronicles  and  the  distinguished 
lady  who  bore  the  honored  name  of  Jefferson  Davis,  and  who 
was  ever  faithful  and  true  to  him  and  to  the  people  whom  he 
loved. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  sad  intelligence  of  his  death,  she 
wrote  from  a  sick  bed  the  following  tender  and  sympathetic 
lines : 

"I  am  able  to  sit  up  a  little,  and  regret  that  I  am  not  strong 
enough  to  say  as  much  about  dear  Mr.  George  Davis  as  my 
heart  dictates. 

"He  was  one  of  the  most  exquisitely  proportioned  of  men. 
His  mind  dominated  his  body,  but  his  heart  drew  him  near 
to  all  that  was  honorable  and  tender,  as  well  as  patriotic  and 
faithful  in  mankind.  He  was  never  dismayed  by  defeat,  and 
never  dejected.  When  the  enemy  was  at  the  gates  of  Eich- 
mond  he  was  fully  sensible  of  our  peril,  but  calm  in  the 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  225 

hope  of  repelling  them,  and  if  this  failed,  certain  of  his 
power  and  will  to  endure  whatever  ills  had  been  reserved 
for  him. 

"His  literary  tastes  were  diverse  and  catholic,  and  his  anx- 
ious mind  found  relaxation  in  studying  the  literary  confi- 
dences of  others  in  a  greater  degree  than  I  have  ever  knovni 
any  other  public  man  except  Mr.  Benjamin.  Upon  being 
asked  one  day  how  he  was,  he  answered :  'I  am  very  much 
comforted  and  rested  by  Professor  Holcomb's  Literature  in 
Letters/  one  of  the  few  new  books  which  came  out  during  the 
Confederacy.  One  of  the  few  hard  things  I  ever  heard  him 
say  was  when  some  one  asked  him  if  he  had  read  Swinburne's 
Laus  Veneris,  and  added,  'You  know  it  is  printed  on  wrap- 
ping paper  and  bound  in  wall  paper,'  he  replied,  'I  have 
never  thought  wall  paper  wholesome,  and  am  sorry  to  know 
there  is  enough  wrapping  paper  on  which  to  print  it.' 

"He  was  fond  of  tracing  the  construction  of  languages,  and 
the  variants  from  one  root  were  a  favorite  subject  of  conversa- 
tion with  him. 

"When  he  fell  in  love  and  married  a  charming  woman,  the 
whole  of  Richmond  rejoiced  with  him,  and  expressed  no 
doubts  of  the  happiness  of  either.  Mr.  Davis'  public  life 
was  as  irreproachable  as  his  private  course.  Once  when  my 
husband  came  home  wearied  with  the  divergence  of  opinions 
in  his  Cabinet,  he  said:  'Davis  does  not  always  agree  with 
me,  but  I  generally  find  he  was  right  at  last.' 

"I  cannot,  of  course,  tell  you  about  his  political  opinions, 
except  that  he  was  one  of  the  strictest  construers  of  the  Con- 
stitution, and  firmly  believed  in  its  final  triumph  over  all 
obstacles  to  freedom. 

"My  husband  felt  for  him  the  most  sincere  friendship,  as 
well  as  confidence  and  esteem,  and  I  think  there  was  never 
the  slightest  shadow  intervened  between  them." 

The  Eesponse  to  Lincoln's  Call  for  Troops. 
Resuming  Mrs.  Parsley's  narrative:     "Later,  when  Lin- 
coln's call  was  made  for  75,000  men  'to  put  down  the  rebel- 


226  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

lion/  the  whole  of  the  Cape  Fear  section  was  fired,  and  with 
scarcely  an  exception  looked  upon  secession  and  war  as  the 
inevitable  outcome. 

"The  young  men  wore  secession  rosettes  and  badges  made 
of  small  pine  burs.  The  military  companies  already  organ- 
ized greatly  increased  their  ranks,  and  drilled  vigorously. 
Other  companies  were  organized  and  men  of  Northern  birth 
who  did  not  join  some  military  organization  were  regarded 
with  suspicion.  Many  of  this  class  slipped  away  to  the  north 
of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  during  the  next  few  months. 

"Men  too  old  for  service  in  the  field  formed  a  cavalry 
company  under  Captain  William  C.  Howard,  for  home  de- 
fense, and  one  company  of  quite  elderly  gentlemen  was  known 
popularly  as  the  'Horse-and-Buggy  Company,'  and  though 
they  did  not  drill,  held  themselves  in  readiness  to  do  what 
they  could  when  called  upon.  They  did  assist  in  the  equip- 
ment of  companies  sent  to  the  field,  and  many  of  them  aided 
and  supported,  during  the  whole  of  the  war,  families  of  men 
in  the  service. 

"School  boys  drilled  constantly  in  the  streets  with  wooden 
guns  and  tin  swords,  and  those  owning  a  real  gun  or  a  good 
imitation  were  sure  of  being  oflScers,  no  matter  about  their 
other  qualifications,  though  to  do  them  justice  they  did  strive 
like  men. 

"When  a  rumor  came  that  the  Harriet  Lane,  a  small  Reve- 
nue Cutter,  had  been  sent  to  reinforce  Fort  Caswell,  which 
was  under  command  of  Sergeant  Reilly,  the  excitement  was 
overwhelming.  The  Harriet  Lane  did  not  come,  but  when 
Fort  Sumter  was  bombarded  on  the  13th  of  April,  several 
companies  of  volunteers  were  ordered  to  the  fort.  Sergeant 
Eeilly,  the  lonely  custodian  of  the  fort,  calling  all  present 
to  witness  that  he  was  compelled  by  superior  force,  surren- 
dered it  in  due  form  and  with  military  honors.  He  after- 
wards served  with  signal  courage  and  devotion  in  the  Con- 
federate service  with  the  rank  of  major  of  artillery." 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  227 

As  soon  as  the  Eighth  Eegiment  of  Volunteers  was  organ- 
ized it  was  ordered  to  encamp  at  Confederate  Point,  near  New 
Inlet,  the  name  having  been  changed  from  Federal  Point. 
A  few  months  later  they  were  ordered  to  Coosawhatchie, 
South  Carolina,  and  moved  to  several  other  points  to  meet 
expected  attacks,  and  later  they  were  ordered  to  Virginia. 
After  the  ten  regiments  of  State  troops  were  organized,  the 
Eighth  Eegiment  of  Volunteers  became  the  Eighteenth  North 
Carolina  State  Troops. 

Company  G  of  this  regiment  was  organized  in  Wilmington 
in  1853  as  the  Wilmington  Light  Infantry.  They  went  into 
the  war  nearly  two  hundred  strong,  under  Capt.  William  L. 
DeRosset,  who  was  soon  promoted.  His  successor  was  Capt. 
Henry  Savage.  Their  records  show  that  fifty-seven  commis- 
sioned officers  of  the  Confederate  States  were  former  mem- 
bers of  this  company.  The  regiment  reached  the  seat  of  war 
in  Virginia  just  in  time  for  the  battle  of  Mechanicsville,  late 
in  June,  1862. 

Wilmington  Companies. 

From  first  to  last  there  were  sent  from  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  Wilmington  twenty  companies  of  Infantry,  two 
of  Cavalry,  and  six  battalions  of  Artillery,  numbering  in  all 

nearly  4,000  men,  divided  as  follows : 

No.  of  men. 

Co.  C,     1st   Infantry,  Captain  J.  S.  Hines 196 

Co.  E,     1st    Infantry,  Captain  James  A.  Wright 147 

Co.   D,     3d    Infantry,  Captain  Edward  Savage 164 

Co.    F,     3d    Infantry,  Captain  Wm.  M.  Parsley 159 

Co.   K,     3d    Infantry,  Captain  David  Williams 174 

Co.   C,     7tli  Infantry,  Captain  Robt.  B.  MacRae 159 

Co.  A,  18th  Infantry,  Captain  Christian  Cornehlson 211 

Co.  E,   18th  Infantry,  Captain  John  R.  Hawes 169 

Co.  G,  loth  Infaiitry,  Captain  Henry  R.  Savage 194 

Co.    I,  18th  Infantry,  Captain  O.  P.  Meares 186 

Co.  D,  36th  Infantry,  Captain  Edward  B.  Dudley 131 

Co.  G,  61st    Infantry,  Captain  J.  F.  Moore 106 

Co.  A,  51st    Infantry,  Captain  John  L.  Cantwell 132 

Co.  C,  51st    Infantry,  Captain  James    Robinson 87 

Co.  E,  51st    Infantry,  Captain  Willis  H.  Pope 89 

16 


228  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Co.  G,  51st    Infantry,  Captain  James  W.  Lippitt 93 

Co.  H,  51st    Infantry,  Captain  S.  W.  Maultsby 75 

Co.  K,  66th  Infantry,  Captain  Wm.  C.  Freeman 140 

Co.  D,  72d    Jr.  Reserves,  Captain  J.  D.  Kerr 91 

Co.  H,  72d    Jr.  Reserves,  First  Lieut,  D.  J.  Byrd 91 

Co.  A,  41st  Regt.  Cavalry,  Captain  A.  T.  Newkirk 94 

Co.  C,  59th  Regt.  Cavalry,  Captain  R.  M.  Mclntire 89 

Co.  A,     1st   Batt.  Artillery,  Captain  Robt.  G.  Rankin...  147 

Co.  B,     1st  Batt.  Artillery,  Captain  Chas.  D.  Ellis 208 

Co.  C,     1st   Batt.  Artillery,  Captain  Alex.  MacRae 177 

Co.  D,     1st   Batt.  Artillery,  Captain  Jas.  L.  McCormack  127 

Co.  C,     5th  Batt.  Artillery,  Captain  Jas.  D.  Gumming..  142 

Co.  D,     5th  Batt.  Artillery,  Captain  Z.  T.  Adams 205 

Enlisted  for  the  Navy 250 

The  officers  and  many  of  the  men  of  the  Third  Regiment 
of  Infantry  were  from  'New  Hanover  County,  and  that  regi- 
ment (like  the  18th)  has  always  seemed  to  belong  peculiarly 
to  Wilmington.  Its  history,  compiled  by  two  of  its  surviving 
officers,  Captains  Metts  and  Cowan,  and  embodied  in  Clark's 
History,  shows  that  its  whole  career  was  "special  service," 
and  the  instances  of  signal  bravery,  daring,  and  endurance 
related  were  so  constant  that  they  were  looked  upon  as  all  in 
the  day's  work,  and  no  special  notice  was  expected  or  taken 
of  them. 

This  regiment,  which  went  to  Virginia  in  1861  with 
1,500  men,  took  part  in  every  battle,  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fray,  from  Mechanicsville  to  Appomattox.  Very  much  re- 
duced by  forced  marches  and  hard  fighting,  with  no  chance 
for  recruiting,  only  300  men  went  into  the  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, and  when  the  regiment  was  mustered  after  the  battle, 
Y7  muskets  were  all  that  responded  in  the  ranks  and  "they 
lost  no  prisoners,  and  had  no  stragglers." 

The  compilers  of  the  history  of  the  Third  Regiment  say 
modestly  that  they  "were  not  in  a  position,  nor  of  sufficiently 
high  grade,  to  write  anything  beyond  the  range  of  their  own 
vision,  but  that  the  history  of  one  regiment  of  j^orth  Carolina 
troops  is  the  history  of  another,  save  in  the  details  which 
marked  their  achievements." 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  229 

An  incident  told  in  Captain  Benson's  Memorial  Address 
on  General  Whiting,  delivered  in  Raleigh  on  Memorial  Day, 
1895,  is  interesting.  It  was  written  to  Captain  Denson  by 
Sergeant  Glennan : 

"During  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Fisher,  there  was  at 
headquarters  a  detail  of  couriers,  consisting  of  youths  fifteen 
to  eighteen  years  of  age.  The  bravest  boys  I  have  ever  seen ; 
their  courage  was  magnificent.  They  were  on  the  go  all  the 
time,  carrying  orders  and  messages  to  every  part  of  the  fort. 
Among  them  was  a  boy  named  Murphy,  a  delicate  stripling. 
He  was  from  Duplin  County,  the  son  of  Mr.  Patrick  Murphy. 
He  had  been  called  upon  a  number  of  times  to  carry  orders, 
and  had  just  returned  from  one  of  his  trips  to  Battery  Buch- 
anan. The  bombardment  had  been  terriffic,  and  he  seemed 
exhausted  and  agitated.  After  reporting,  he  said  to  me  with 
tears  in  his  eyes,  'I  have  no  fear  physically,  but  my  morale 
is  lacking.'  And  then  he  was  called  to  carry  another  order. 
He  slightly  wavered  and  General  Whiting  saw  his  emotion. 
'Come  on,  my  boy,'  he  said,  'don't  fear,  I  will  go  with  you,' 
and  he  went  off  with  the  courier  and  accompanied  him  to  and 
from  the  point  where  he  had  to  deliver  the  order.  It  was  one 
of  the  most  dangerous  positions  and  over  almost  unprotected 
ground. 

"The  boy  and  the  general  returned  safely.  There  was  no 
agitation  after  that,  and  that  evening  he  shouldered  his  gun 
when  every  man  was  ordered  on  duty  to  protect  the  fort 
from  a  charge  of  General  Terry's  men.  The  boy  met  death 
soon  and  rests  in  an  unmarked  grave,  but  his  memory  shall 
ever  be  treasured." 

The  Memorial  Association. 

A  band  of  faithful  women  who  had  worked  under  Mrs.  A. 
J.  DeRosset  as  a  Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  organized  in  July, 
1866,  a  permanent  Memorial  Association,  with  the  purpose  of 
rescuing  from  oblivion  the  names  and  graves  of  the  gallant 
Confederates  who  lie  buried  near  Wilmington.  Mrs.  Julia 
A.  Oakley  was  made  president.     The  first  memorial  observ- 


230  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

ance  was  on  Julj  21,  1866.  Many  citizens  and  a  number  of 
old  Confederate  soldiers  were  present  and  the  ladies  went 
from  grave  to  grave  in  Oakdale,  bringing  their  floral  tributes 
to  the  dead.  A  beautiful  and  touching  address  was  delivered 
by  Maj.  Joseph  A.  Engelhard,  and  prayer  offered  by  Rev. 
George  Patterson,  who  had  been  chaplain  of  the  Third  Regi- 
ment. 

The  Memorial  Association  afterwards  obtained  a  charter 
from  the  Legislature  through  Col.  William  L.  Saunders  in 
order  that  they  might  hold  the  deed  for  a  "Confederate  lot," 
which  was  given  them  by  the  Directors  of  the  Oakdale  Ceme- 
tery Company. 

Five  hundred  and  fifty  bodies  of  Confederate  soldiers, 
buried  at  various  points  where  they  fell  in  the  vicinity  of 
Wibnington,  were  brought  and  reinterred  in  this  lot.  Only 
a  few  of  the  names  were  known. 

In  1870  Memorial  Day  was  observed  for  the  first  time  on 
the  10th  of  May,  the  anniversary  of  Stonewall  Jackson's 
death,  which  was  afterwards  made  a  legal  holiday. 

In  1872  the  beautiful  memorial  statue  was  unveiled.  Self- 
denial,  work,  prayers,  tears  and  heart's  blood,  went  into  the 
building  of  that  monument. 

In  1899  a  neat  stone  was  placed,  marking  the  grave  of  Mrs. 
Greenhow,  who  lost  her  life  in  the  service  of  the  Confederate 
States.  This  same  year  mention  was  made  for  the  first  time 
of  the  fact  that  the  bronze  statue  of  a  soldier  on  the  monument 
was  cast  from  cannon  captured  during  the  war. 

In  1875  the  Memorial  Association,  having  been  greatly 
weakened  by  death  and  the  age  of  its  members,  decided  to 
merge  themselves  into  the  new  organization  of  the  Daughters 
of  the  Confederacy,  where  they  could  still  carry  on  their 
sacred  work  "buoyed  up  and  assisted  by  the  fresh  enthusiasm 
of  the  younger  association."  They  were  made  the  Memorial 
Committee  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy,  and  some 
of  them  still  assist  in  placing  the  fresh  laurel  wreaths  on 
Memorial  Day. 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  231 

Besides  the  five  hundred  and  fifty  buried  in  the  Confeder- 
ate lot,  there  are  scattered  about  Oakdale  three  hundred  and 
eighty  graves  and  in  Belview,  the  Eoman  Catholic  Cemetery, 
and  private  burial  grounds,  about  one  hundred  more.  These 
are  all  marked  with  stone  markers  and,  as  far  as  possible, 
are  adorned  with  a  laurel  wreath  upon  each  recurring  10th 
of  May. 


A  CAPTURE  BEFORE  THE  WAR.^ 

Bt  John  L.  Cantwell. 

The  fact  that  the  State  of  North  Carolina  was  slow  to 
follow  the  secession  movement  of  her  more  southern  sister 
States  was  the  cause  of  much  chafing  among  her  people  in 
the  eastern  counties,  and  especially  along  the  seacoast,  where 
it  was  urged  that  the  Federal  Government  was  likely,  at  any 
moment,  to  garrison  the  forts  commanding  Cape  Fear  River 
and  Beaufort  Harbor. 

The  people  of  Wilmington  were  particularly  exercised 
over  the  possibility  of  such  a  step  being  taken,  and  it  is  likely 
that  the  knowledge  of  this  strong  feeling,  and  the  impression 
that  it  would  be  regarded  as  an  act  of  coercion,  alone  de- 
terred the  Washington  Government  from  sending  down  strong 
garrisons  and  ample  munitions  of  war. 

Fort  Caswell,  commanding  the  main  entrance  to  Cape  Fear 
River,  was  a  bastioned,  masonry  fort  of  great  strength  and 
in  thorough  order,  but  without  mounted  guns.  Once  occu- 
pied and  armed,  it  would  have  been  impossible  for  the  Con- 
federates, without  command  of  the  sea,  to  have  retaken  it,  and 
the  port  which  afterwards  proved  of  such  inestimable  value 
to  them  would  have  been  effectually  sealed.  The  Federal 
fleets  having  free  entrance  there,  would  have  held  the  shores 
on  either  side  of  the  river  for  some  distance  up,  and  com- 
manded, from  a  safe  interior  base,  the  entrance  through  I^ew 
Inlet,  for  the  defense  of  which  Fort  Fisher  was  afterwards 


'From  Clark's  Regimental  Histories. 


232  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

built,  and  that  historic  and  epoch-making  earthwork  would 
probably  never  have  been  constructed. 

In  the  State  at  large  the  Union  sentiment  was  at  this  time 
slightly  in  the  ascendant.  In  the  lower  Cape  Fear  section 
the  secessionists  were  probably  in  the  majority.  These  re- 
garded delays  as  dangerous,  and  anticipated  with  forebodings 
the  occupation  of  the  forts  by  the  Union  forces. 

Early  in  January,  1861,  alarmed  by  the  condition  of  affairs 
in  Charleston  Harbor,  they  determined  to  risk  no  longer  de- 
lay. A  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  was  held  in 
the  courthouse,  at  which  Robert  G.  Eankin,  Esq.,  who  after- 
wards gave  his  life  for  the  cause  on  the  battlefield  of  Benton- 
ville,  presided.  A  Committee  of  Safety  was  formed,  and  a 
call  made  for  volunteers  to  be  enrolled  for  instant  service 
under  the  name  of  "Cape  Fear  Minute  Men."  The  organiza- 
tion was  speedily  effected,  John  J.  Hedrick  being  chosen  com- 
mander. 

On  the  10th  of  January  Major  Hedrick  and  his  men  em- 
barked on  a  small  schooner  with  provisions  for  one  week,  the 
Committee  of  Safety  guaranteeing  continued  support  and 
supplies,  each  man  carrying  such  private  weapons  as  he  pos- 
sessed. Arriving  at  Smithville  at  3  p.  m.,  they  took  posses- 
sion of  the  United  States  barracks  known  as  Fort  Johnston, 
and  such  stores  as  were  there  in  charge  of  United  States 
Ordnance  Sergeant  James  Reilly,  later  captain  of  Eeilly's 
battery.  The  same  afternoon  Major  Hedrick  took  twenty 
men  of  his  command,  reinforced  by  Capt.  S.  D.  Thurston, 
commander  of  the  Smithville  Guards,  and  a  number  of  his 
men  and  citizens  of  Smithville,  but  all  acting  as  individuals 
only,  and  proceeded  to  Fort  Caswell,  three  miles  across  the 
bay,  where  they  demanded,  and  obtained,  surrender  of  the 
fort  from  the  United  States  Sergeant  in  charge. 

Major  Hedrick  assumed  command  and  prepared  to  make 
his  position  as  secure  as  possible.  About  twenty-five  strong, 
armed  only  with  shotguns,  but  sure  of  ample  reinforcements 
should  occasion  arise,  these  brave  men  determined  to  hold 


TEE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  233 

Fort  Caswell  at  all  hazards.  In  bitter  cold  weather,  they 
stood  guard  on  the  ramparts  and  patrolled  the  beaches,  reck- 
oning not  that,  unsustained  even  by  State  authority,  their 
action  was  treasonable  rebellion,  jeopardizing  their  lives  and 
property.  There  were  only  two  24-pounder  guns  mounted, 
one  on  the  sea  face  and  one  on  the  inner  face,  both  carriages 
being  too  decayed  to  withstand  their  own  recoil,  but,  such  as 
they  were,  with  them  they  determined  to  defy  the  Army  and 
JSTavy  of  the  United  States.  The  smoke  of  an  approaching 
steamer  being  once  descried  below  the  horizon  the  alarm  was 
signaled,  and,  believing  it  to  be  a  man-of-war,  the  brave  men 
of  Smithville  flew  to  arms,  and  soon  the  bay  was  alive  with 
boats  hurrying  them  to  the  aid  of  their  comrades  within  the 
fort.  Women,  as  in  the  old  days,  armed  sons  and  fathers 
and  urged  them  to  the  front.  But  the  steamer  proved  to  be 
a  friendly  one. 

Upon  receipt  of  unofficial  information  of  this  movement, 
Gov.  John  W.  Ellis,  as  Captain  General  and  Commander 
in  Chief  of  the  ITorth  Carolina  Militia,  11th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1861,  addressed  a  letter  to  Col.  John  L.  Cant  well, 
commanding  the  Thirtieth  Eegiment  North  Carolina  Militia, 
at  Wilmington,  in  which,  after  stating  his  belief  that  the  men 
were  "actuated  by  patriotic  motives,"  he  continued : 

"Yet,  in  view  of  the  relations  existing  between  the  General 
Government  and  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  there  is  no 
authority  of  law,  under  existing  circumstances,  for  the  occu- 
pation of  the  United  States  forts  situated  in  this  State.  I 
cannot,  therefore,  sustain  the  action  of  Captain  Thurston, 
however  patriotic  his  motives  may  have  been,  and  am  com- 
pelled by  an  imperative  sense  of  duty,  to  order  that  Fort  Cas- 
well be  'restored  to  the  possession  of  the  authorities  of  the 
United  States. 

"You  will  proceed  to  Smithville  on  receipt  of  this  commu- 
nication and  communicate  orders  to  Captain  Thurston  to 
withdraw  his  troops  from  Fort  Caswell.  You  will  also  in- 
vestigate and  report  the  facts  to  this  department." 


234  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Upon  receipt  of  this  order  on  the  12th,  Col.  T.  L.  Cant- 
well  notified  the  Governor  that  he  would  proceed  at  once  to 
Fort  Caswell,  accompanied  by  Eobert  E.  Calder,  acting  adju- 
tant, and  William  Calder,  acting  quartermaster,  two  staff 
officers  temporarily  appointed  for  that  duty.  Transportation 
facilities  between  Wilmington  and  Smithville  were  very  lim- 
ited. Colonel  Cantwell  and  his  aids  embarked  on  a  slow- 
sailing  sloop  which  became  becalmed  within  four  miles  of 
Smithville.  They  were  put  into  shallow  water,  from  whence 
they  waded  and  walked  to  Smithville,  where  they  secured, 
with  difficulty,  because  the  populace  was  almost  unanimously 
opposed  to  their  supposed  mission,  a  pilot  boat  in  which  they 
sailed  to  Fort  Caswell,  arriving  there  after  dark. 

After  some  parleying,  and  not  without  reluctance,  they 
were  admitted  and  conducted  to  Major  Hedrick,  to  whom  the 
following  order  was  delivered : 

To  Majoe  John  J.  Hedrick,  Commanding  Fort  Caswell: 

Sib: — In  obedience  to  the  order  of  His  Excellency,  John  W.  Ellis, 
Governor,  etc.,  a  copy  of  which  I  herewith  transmit,  it  becomes  my 
duty  to  direct  that  you  withdraw  the  troops  under  your  command 
from  Fort  Caswell,  and  restore  the  same  to  the  custody  of  the 
oflacer  of  the  United  States  whom  you  found  in  charge. 
Respectfully, 

John  L.  Cantwell, 
Colonel  Thirtieth  North  Carolina  Militia. 
Robert  E.  Calder,  Acting  Adjutant. 

The  garrison  asked  until  the  next  morning  to  consider  what 
reply  should  be  made,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  this 
was  returned: 

Colonel  John  L.  Cantwell: 

Sib: — Your  communication,  with  the  copy  of  the  order  of  Governor 
Ellis  demanding  the  surrender  of  this  post,  has  been  received.  In 
reply,  I  have  to  inform  you  that  we,  as  North  Carolinians,  will  obey 
his  command.  This  post  will  be  evacuated  tomorrow  at  9  o'clock 
a.  m.  John  J.  Hedrick, 

Major  Commanding. 

George  Wortham,  Acting  Adjutant. 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  235 

The  fort  was  evacuated  on  the  next  day.  Colonel  Cantwell 
and  his  aides  returned  to  Wilmington  and  reported  the  facts 
to  Governor  Ellis.  The  United  States  Sergeant  again  as- 
sumed control  of  the  Government  property. 

Thus  matters  remained  in  this  section  until  April  of  the 
same  year,  the  State  in  the  meantime  drifting  steadily  to- 
wards secession  and  war,  and  the  people  sternly  arming  and 
preparing.  The  local  military  companies  in  Wilmington 
were  fully  recruited,  and  the  former  "Minute  Men"  perma- 
nently organized  as  the  Cape  Fear  Light  Artillery,  under 
which  name  they  served  through  the  war. 

On  the  14th  of  April  came  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter, 
followed  on  the  15th  by  a  call  from  the  Secretary  of  War  upon 
the  Governor  of  North  Carolina  for  "two  regiments  of  mili- 
tary for  immediate  service."  Immediately  the  Governor 
telegraphed  orders  to  Col.  J.  L.  Cantwell,  at  Wilmington, 
"to  take  Forts  Caswell  and  Johnston  without  delay,  and  hold 
them  until  further  orders  against  all  comers."  Colonel  Cant- 
well, as  commander  of  the  Thirtieth  Regiment  !N'orth  Caro- 
lina Militia,  promptly  issued  orders  to  "the  officers  in  com- 
mand of  the  Wilmington  Light  Infantry,  the  German  Vol- 
unteers, and  the  Wilmington  Rifle  Guards,  to  assemble  fully 
armed  and  equipped  this  afternoon"  (15th),  which,  orders 
were  promptly  obeyed. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16tli  the  Governor  telegraphed 
Colonel  Cantwell  to  proceed  at  once  to  the  forts,  "and  take 
possession  of  the  same  in  the  name  of  the  State  of  ISTorth 
Carolina.  This  measure  being  one  of  precaution  merely,  you 
will  observe  strictly  a  peaceful  policy,  and  act  only  on  the 
defensive."  The  force  under  Colonel  Cantwell's  orders 
moved  promptly.  It  consisted  of  the  Wilmington  Light  In- 
fantry, Capt.  W.  L.  DeRosset;  the  German  Volunteers, 
Capt.  C.  Cornehlson ;  the  Wilmington  Rifle  Guards,  Capt. 
O.  P.  Meares;  and  the  Cape  Fear  Light  Artillery,  Lieut. 
James  M.  Stevenson,  commanding.  At  4  p.  m..  United 
States   Sergt.   James  Reilly  surrendered  the  post  at  Fort 


236  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Johnston,  where  Lieutenant  Stevenson  was  left  in  com- 
mand with  his  company.  The  remainder  of  the  battalion, 
under  Col.  J.  L.  Cantwell,  proceeded  to  Fort  Caswell  and 
took  possession  at  6.20  p.  m.,  Sergeant  Walker,  of  the  United 
States  Army,  being  placed  in  close  confinement  in  his  quar- 
ters "in  consequence  of  the  discovery  of  repeated  attempts  to 
communicate  with  his  government." 

Officers  and  men  worked  with  vigor  to  mount  guns  and 
prepare  for  defense,  and  the  work  never  ceased  until  the  fall 
of  Fort  Fisher  in  1865,  and  the  necessary  abandonment  of 
the  defense  of  the  lower  harbor.  The  Wilmington  Light 
Infantry  were  soon  after  sent  to  Federal  Point,  where,  in 
Battery  Bolles,  they  began  the  first  defensive  works  which 
afterward  grew  into  Fort  Fisher  and  its  outlying  batteries. 

Thus  was  war  inaugurated  in  North  Carolina  more  than 
a  month  prior  to  the  act  of  secession,  and  it  is  a  noteworthy 
fact  that  the  news  of  the  act  dissolving  its  connection  with 
the  Union,  and  the  call  upon  her  sons  to  arm  themselves  was 
first  made  known  to  the  pioneer  troops  of  the  Cape  Fear  on 
the  parade  ground  at  Fort  Caswell. 


EARLY  WAR  TIMES. 

The  day  following  the  fall  of  Sumter,  Maj.  W.  H.  C. 
Whiting  hastened  to  Wilmington  and  by  courtesy  took  com- 
mand of  the  defenses  of  the  Cape  Fear.  He  at  once  formed  a 
staff,  organized  the  Quartermaster  and  Commissary  Depart- 
ments, and  assigned  Capt.  F.  L.  Childs,  of  the  old  Army,  to 
duty  as  Chief  of  Artillery  and  Ordnance,  and  he  appointed 
S.  A.  Ashe  a  lieutenant,  and  assigned  him  to  duty  with  Cap- 
tain Childs.  Capt.  John  C.  Winder,  who  bore  a  commis- 
sion from  Governor  Ellis  as  chief  engineer,  reported  to 
Major  Whiting.  So  all  of  the  departments  were  speedily 
organized,  and  the  work  of  preparing  for  defense  was  begun. 
It  was  a  time  of  unremitting  work. 

To  command  New  Inlet  Capt.  C.  P.  Bolles  threw  up  the 
first  battery  on  Confederate  Point.     It  was  called  Battery 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  237 

Bolles.  The  Wilmington  Light  Infantry,  Capt.  W.  L.  De- 
Eosset,  which  had  been  drilled  at  the  cannon  at  Caswell,  was 
its  first  garrison.  The  most  interesting  of  these  early  bat- 
teries was  a  casemate  battery  constructed  by  Captain  Winder 
out  of  railroad  iron  and  palmetto  logs  cut  on  Smith's  Island. 
It  was  located  near  the  river  bank  and  a  short  distance  higher 
up  than  Battery  Bolles.  Captain  Winder's  plan  of  defense 
for  Confederate  Point  embraced  a  strong  fortification  to  com- 
mand the  inlet ;  and  in  order  to  guard  against  a  land  attack 
there  was  a  redoubt  at  the  head  of  the  sound,  another  half-way 
to  the  point,  and  a  covered  way  was  planned  from  the  sound 
to  the  point,  affording  protection  from  the  guns  of  the  fleet 
to  the  riflemen  while  they  should  be  engaged  with  any  force 
that  might  attempt  to  land. 

Major  Whiting  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  general 
and  ordered  to  Virginia,  and  Col.  S.  L.  Fremont  had  gen- 
eral charge  of  the  Cape  Fear.  After  some  months,  Colonel 
Brown  of  the  Kegular  Army  succeeded  Colonel  Cantwell. 
Captain  DeRosset  was  promoted  and  ordered  to  Virginia,  and 
Maj.  J.  J.  Hedrick  had  command  at  Confederate  Point. 
That  officer  early  became  distinguished  for  energy  and  effi- 
ciency, and  was  especially  remarkable  for  his  skill  in  erecting 
batteries.  His  work  at  Confederate  Point  and  also  at  Fort 
Johnston  excited  admiration.  In  October,  1861,  when  an  at- 
tack was  expected.  Gen.  Joseph  R.  Anderson,  of  Rich- 
mond, an  old  West  Pointer,  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  district,  and  brought  with  him  a  full  staff  of  Virginians. 
Major  Lamb,  of  ITorfolk,  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
Confederate  Point  and  fortunately  proved  himself  to  be  a 
most  capable,  efficient,  and  acceptable  officer. 

Later  in  the  war  the  importance  of  Wilmington  to  the  Con- 
federacy became  manifest,  and  General  Whiting,  doubtless 
the  best  Engineer  officer  in  the  Army,  and  a  gentleman  of 
most  remarkable  intellect  and  attainments,  was  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  district.  General  Hebert  had  command 
of  the  lower  defenses.    His  headquarters  were  at  Fort  John- 


238  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

ston.  It  was  here  that  he  narrowly  escaped  being  captured. 
One  dark  night  young  Lieutenant  Gushing,  of  the  Federal 
Navy,  who  achieved  gi'eat  fame  by  blowing  up  the  ram  Albe- 
marle, made  a  raid  on  Ilebert's  private  quarters,  and  came 
near  carrying  off  the  General  to  the  blockading  squadron. 
On  another  occasion,  Gushing  passed  up  the  river  to  the 
vicinity  of  Wilmington  and  spent  a  day  within  sight  of  the 
town,  without,  however,  gaining  any  information. 

In  1863,  Gol.  Thomas  M.  Jones,  a  brother  of  Gapt. 
Pembroke  Jones  of  the  ISTavy,  and  associated  with  the  Cape 
Tear  by  his  marriage  with  Miss  London,  was  given  command 
of  Fort  Caswell,  but,  his  health  failing,  in  1864  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Col.  G.  H.  Simonton. 


DURING  THE  WAR. 

When  Beauregard  fired  that  fateful  bombshell  which  burst 
over  Fort  Sumter  at  half  past  four  on  the  morning  of  April 
12,  1861,  it  sent  a  thrill  of  dismay  into  every  Southern  port 
and  panic-stricken  master  mariners  hurriedly  prepared  their 
ships  for  sea,  and  welcomed  any  wind  that  would  blow  them 
away  from  impending  danger. 

In  a  short  time  the  Gape  Fear  was  deserted,  and  the  occu- 
pation of  pilots  and  longshoremen  was  gone.  At  that  time 
there  were  sixty  or  seventy  licensed  bar  and  river  pilots  and 
apprentices,  who  had  no  thought  of  the  rich  harvest  of  golden 
sovereigns  which  Fortune  was  to  pour  into  their  pockets  in 
the  strange  commerce  of  a  beleagured  city  that  became  the 
gateway  of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

The  Blockade. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  April,  1861,  President  Lincoki  de- 
clared by  proclamation  a  military  and  commercial  blockade 
of  our  Southern  ports,  which  was  supplemented,  by  the  proc- 
lamation of  the  27th  of  May,  to  embrace  the  whole  Atlantic 
coast  from  the  Capes  of  Virginia  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Rio  Grande.  This  was  technically  a  "constructive,"  or  "pa- 
per," blockade,   inasmuch   as  the  declaration   of  the  great 


TEE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  239 

Powers  assembled  in  Congress  at  Paris,  in  1856,  removed  all 
uncertainty  as  to  the  principles  upon  which  the  adjudication 
of  prize  claims  must  proceed,  by  declaring  that  "blockades,  in 
order  to  be  binding,  must  be  effective ;  that  is  to  say,  must  be 
maintained  by  a  force  sufficient  really  to  prevent  access  to 
the  enemy's  coast." 

It  was  obviously  impossible  at  that  time  for  the  Federal 
Government  to  enforce  a  blockade  of  the  Southern  coast, 
measuring  3,549  miles  and  containing  189  harbors,  besides 
almost  innumerable  inlets  and  sounds  through  which  small 
craft  might  easily  elude  the  four  United  States  warships  then 
available  for  service,  the  remaining  38  ships  of  war  in  com- 
mission being  on  distant  stations. 

Measures  were,  therefore,  taken  by  the  'Navj  Department 
to  close  the  entrances  of  the  most  important  Southern  ports, 
notably  those  of  Charleston  and  Savannah,  by  sinking  vessels 
loaded  with  stone  across  the  main  channels  or  bars.  Prepara- 
tions were  also  made  on  a  more  extensive  plan  to  destroy  the 
natural  roadsteads  of  other  Southern  ports  and  harbors  along 
the  coast  by  the  same  means ;  but,  although  twenty-five  ves- 
sels were  sunk  in  the  smaller  inlets,  it  does  not  appear  that 
this  novel  method  of  blockade  was  generally  adopted. 

In  the  meantime,  urgent  orders  had  been  sent  recalling 
from  foreign  stations  every  available  ship  of  war ;  and  by  De- 
cember of  the  same  year  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  had  pur- 
chased and  armed  264  ships  which,  with  their  2,557  guns  and 
22,000  men,  rendered  the  "paper  blockade"  comparatively 
effective.  A  sorry  looking  fleet  it  was  as  compared  with  our 
modern  navies ;  ships,  barks,  schooners,  sloops,  tugs,  passen- 
ger boats — anything  that  would  carry  a  gun,  from  the  hoary 
type  of  ISToah's  Ark  to  the  double-end  ferry  boat  still  con- 
spicuous in  "New  York  waters. 

"The  Blockading  Fleet,"  says  Judge  Advocate  Cowley, 
"was  divided  into  two  squadrons;  the  Atlantic  Blockading 
Squadron  of  22  vessels,  carrying  296  guns  and  3,300  men, 
and  the  Gulf  Blockading  Squadron  of  21  vessels  carrying  282 


240  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

guns  and  3,500  men."  This  force  was  constantly  increased  as 
the  two  hundred  specially  designed  ships  of  war  were  built  by 
the  ISTavy  Department.  The  Squadron  reached  its  highest  de- 
gree of  efficiency  during  the  fourth  year  of  the  war  by  the  ac- 
quisition of  many  prizes  which  were  quickly  converted  into 
light  draft  cruisers  and  which  rendered  effective  naval  service, 
frequently  under  their  original  names. 

The  Blockadees. 

The  first  blockader  placed  upon  the  Cape  Fear  Station  was 
one  bearing  the  misnomer  Daylight,  which  appeared  July 
20,  1861.  Others  soon  followed,  until  the  number  of  the 
blockaders  off  New  Inlet  and  the  main  bar  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River  was  increased  to  about  thirty  or  more;  these  formed 
a  cordon  every  night  in  the  shape  of  a  crescent,  the  horns  of 
which  were  so  close  in  shore  that  it  was  almost  impossible  for 
a  small  boat  to  pass  without  discovery.  Armed  picket 
barges  also  patrolled  the  bars  and  sometimes  crept  close  in 
upon  the  forts.  For  a  year  or  more  the  fleet  was  largely  kept 
upon  the  blockading  stations ;  then  a  second  cordon  was 
placed  across  the  track  of  the  blockade  runners  near  the  ports 
of  Nassau  and  the  Bermudas,  the  cruisers  of  which  some- 
times violated  the  international  distance  restriction  of  one 
league — three  geographical  miles — from  neutral  land.  At 
last  a  third  cordon  was  drawn  on  the  edge  of  the  Gulf  Stream, 
by  which  the  hunted  and  harassed  blockade  runner  often  be- 
came an  easy  prey  in  the  early  morning,  after  a  hard  night's 
run  in  the  darkness,  during  which  no  lights  were  visible  to 
friend  or  foe,  even  the  binnacle  lamp  being  carefully 
screened,  leaving  only  a  small  peephole  by  which  the  ship 
was  steered. 

The  Cruisers. 

Some  of  the  later  cruisers  were  faster  than  the  blockade 
runners  and  were  more  dreaded  than  the  blockading  squad- 
ron— not  only  because  of  their  greater  speed,  but  chiefly  be- 
cause of  the  proximity  of  their  consorts  which  kept  them 
always  in  sight,  often  to  the  discomfiture  of  their  unhappy 


TEE  WAR  BETWEEN  TEE  STATES  241 

quarry,  headed  off  and  opposed  in  every  direction.  The 
prospective  division  of  big  prize  money,  running  into  mil- 
lions of  dollars,  was,  of  course,  the  most  exciting  feature  of 
the  service  on  the  Federal  side.  Occasionally  there  was 
comparatively  trifling  compensation,  but  greater  enjoyment  in 
the  capture  of  some  small  fry  blockade  runners,  consisting 
of  pilot  boats  or  large  yawls  laden  with  two  or  three  bales  of 
cotton  and  a  crew  of  three  or  four  youths,  that  sometimes 
came  to  grief  in  a  most  humiliating  way.  These  small  craft, 
upon  one  of  which  the  writer  was  at  sea  for  two  weeks,  were 
too  frail  for  the  risk  of  the  longer  voyages,  and  were  usually 
projected  from  the  small  inlets,  or  sounds,  farther  South, 
which  gave  them  a  short  run  of  about  a  hundred  miles  to 
the  other  Bahama  Keys,  through  whose  dangerous  waters 
they  would  warily  make  their  way  to  Nassau.  A  boat  of  this 
description  sailed  over  a  Florida  bar  on  a  dark  night  under 
a  favorable  wind;  but,  failing  to  get  out  of  sight  of  land 
before  morning  dawned,  was  overhauled  at  sunrise  by  a 
blockader  and  ordered  to  come  alongside,  where,  with  their 
own  hands,  these  miniature  blockade  runners  were  obliged 
to  hook  on  the  falls  of  the  Federal  davits,  by  which  they 
were  ignominiously  hoisted — boat,  cargo  and  crew,  to  the 
captor's  deck. 

The  desertion  of  negro  slaves  from  tidewater  plantations 
and  their  subsequent  rescue  as  "Intelligent  Contrabands" 
by  the  coasting  cruisers  formed  an  occasional  incident  in 
the  records  of  their  official  logs ;  but  it  is  a  noteworthy  fact, 
deserving  honorable  mention,  that  comparatively  few  of  the 
trusted  negroes  upon  whom  the  soldiers  in  the  Confederate 
Army  relied  for  the  protection  and  support  of  their  families 
at  home  were  thus  found  wanting.  A  pathetic  and  fatal 
instance  is  recalled  in  the  case  of  a  misguided  negro  family 
which  put  off  from  the  shore  in  the  darkness,  hoping  they 
would  be  picked  up  by  a  chance  gunboat  in  the  morning. 
They  were  hailed  by  a  cruiser  at  daylight,  but  in  attempting 
to  board  her  their  frail  boat  was  swamped,  and  the  father 
alone  was  rescued ;  the  mother  and  all  the  children  perishing. 


242  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

A  Port  of  Refuge. 

The  natural  advantages  of  Wilmington  at  the  time  of  the 
War  between  the  States  made  it  an  ideal  port  for  blockade 
runners,  there  being  two  entrances  to  the  river;  New  Inlet 
on  the  north,  and  the  Western  or  main,  bar  on  the  south 
of  Cape  Fear. 

The  slope  of  our  beach  for  miles  is  very  gradual  to  deep 
water.  The  soundings  along  the  coast  are  regular,  and  the 
floor  of  the  ocean  is  remarkably  even.  A  steamer  hard 
pressed  by  the  enemy  could  run  along  the  outer  edge  of  the 
breakers  without  great  risk  of  grounding;  the  pursuer,  be- 
ing usually  of  deeper  draft,  was  obliged  to  keep  further  off 
shore.  The  Confederate  steamer  Lilian,  of  which  I  was 
then  purser,  was  chased  for  nearly  a  hundred  miles  from 
Cape  Lookout  by  the  United  States  steamer  Shenandoah, 
which  sailed  a  parallel  course  within  half  a  mile  of  her  and 
forced  the  Lilian  at  times  into  the  breakers.  This  was  proba- 
bly the  narrowest  escape  ever  made  by  a  blockade  runner  in 
a  chase.  The  Shenandoah  began  firing  her  broadside  guns 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  her  gunners  and  the  com- 
manding officers  of  the  batteries  being  distinctly  visible  to 
the  Lilian  s  crew.  A  heavy  sea  was  running  which  deflected 
the  aim  of  the  man-of-war,  and  this  alone  saved  the  Lilian 
from  destruction.  A  furious  bombardment  by  the  Shenan- 
doah, aggravated  by  the  display  of  the  Lilian  s  Confederate 
flag,  was  continued  until  nightfall,  when,  by  a  clever  ruse, 
the  Lilian,  guided  by  the  flash  of  her  pursuer's  guns,  stopped 
for  a  few  minutes;  then,  putting  her  helm  hard  over,  ran 
across  the  wake  of  the  warship  straight  out  to  sea,  and,  on  the 
following  morning,  passed  the  fleet  off  Fort  Fisher  in  such  a 
crippled  condition  that  several  weeks  were  spent  in  Wilming- 
ton for  repairs. 


THE  ^VAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  243 

CHAI^GES  DURIi^G  THE  WAR. 

Wilmington,  the  principal  seaport  of  North  Carolina,  also 
became  the  most  important  in  the  Southern  Confederacy. 
Prior  to  the  beginning  of  hostilities  it  had  sustained  a  large 
traffic  in  naval  stores  and  lumber,  and  now  it  was  to  be  for  a 
time  the  chief  cotton  port  of  America.  A  startling  change  in 
the  aspect  of  the  port  soon  became  apparent.  The  sailing 
vessels,  even  to  the  tiny  corn-crackers  from  Hyde  County,  had 
vanished;  likewise  the  two  'New  York  steamers.  The  long 
line  of  wharves  was  occupied  by  a  fleet  of  nondescript  craft 
the  like  of  which  had  never  been  seen  in  North  Carolina 
waters.  A  cotton  compress  on  the  western  side  of  the  river 
near  the  Market  Street  ferry,  was  running  night  and  day,  to 
supply  these  steamers  with  cargoes  for  Nassau  and  Bermuda, 
while  other  new  comers  were  busily  discharging  their  anom- 
alous cargoes  of  life-preserving  and  death-dealing  supplies 
for  the  new  Confederacy. 

The  good  old  town  was  sadly  marred  by  the  plagues  of  war 
and  pestilence  and  famine.  Four  hundred  and  forty-seven 
of  the  population,  reduced  by  flight  to  about  three  thousand, 
had  been  carried  off  by  the  epidemic  of  yellow  fever  brought 
from  Nassau  by  the  steamer  Kate;  and  hundreds  more  of 
the  younger  generation,  who^  gave  up  their  lives  in  the  Con- 
federate cause,  had  been  brought  to  their  final  resting  place 
in  Oakdale  Cemetery.  Suspension  of  the  civil  law,  neglect 
of  sanitary  precautions,  the  removal  of  nearly  all  the  famine 
stricken  women  and  children  to  safer  places  in  the  interior, 
and  the  coming  of  speculators  and  adventurers  to  the  auction 
sales  of  the  blockade  runners'  merchandise,  as  well  as  the 
advent  of  lawless  and  depraved  characters  attracted  by  the 
camps  and  shipping,  had  quite  changed  the  aspect  of  the 
whole  community.  The  military  post,  including  all  the 
river  and  harbor  defenses,  was  under  the  command  of  Maj. 
Gen.  W.  H.  C.  Whiting,  a  distinguished  West  Point  en- 
gineer of  great  ability,  well  known  and  honored  in  Wil- 
mington, where  he  married  and  resided.  He  fell,  mortally 
17 


244  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

wounded,  in  the  last  Fort  Fisher  fight,  and  died  a  prisoner 
of  war  in  a  Northern  hospital.  His  remains  were  brought 
home,  and  now  rest  in  Oakdale  beside  those  of  his  most  esti- 
mable wife,  who  after  some  years  followed  him. 

The  Yellow  Fevee. 

The  distress  of  Wilmington  during  the  yellow  fever  epi- 
demic was  described  as  follows  by  the  late  Dr.  Thomas 
F.  Wood  in  his  biographical  sketch  of  one  of  the  heroes  of 
that  fearful  scourge.  Dr.  James  H.  Dickson,  who  died  at  his 
post  of  duty. 

"The  month  of  September,  1862,  was  one  of  great  calamity 
to  Wilmington.  The  alarming  forebodings  of  the  visitation 
of  yellow  fever  in  a  pestilential  form  had  ripened  into  a 
certainty.  Depleted  of  her  young  and  active  men,  there 
was  only  a  military  garrison  in  occupation,  and  when  the 
presence  of  fever  was  announced  the  soldiers  were  removed 
to  a  safer  locality.  The  country  people,  taking  panic  at  the 
news  of  the  presence  of  the  fever,  no  longer  sent  in  their 
supplies.  The  town  was  deserted,  its  silence  broken  only 
by  the  occasional  pedestrian  bound  on  errands  of  mercy  to 
the  sick,  or  the  rumbling  of  the  rude  funeral  cart.  The 
blockade  was  being  maintained  with  increased  vigor.  The 
only  newspaper  then  published  was  the  Wilmington  Jour- 
nal^ a  daily  under  the  editorship  of  James  Fulton,  and  its 
issues  were  maintained  under  the  greatest  difficulties,  owing 
to  the  scarcity  of  paper  and  to  sickness  among  the  printers. 
All  eyes  were  turned  anxiously  toward  the  physicians  and 
those  in  authority  for  help.  To  all  the  resident  physicians 
the  disease  was  a  new  one;  not  one  in  the  number  had  ever 
seen  a  case  of  yellow  fever,  and  among  them  were  men  of 
large  experience.  The  municipal  authorities  recognized 
their  helplessness ;  the  town  was  neglected,  for  it  had  been 
overcrowded  with  soldiers  and  visitors  since  the  early  days 
of  the  spring  of  1861.  The  black  pall  of  smoke  from  the 
burning  tar  barrels  added  solemnity  to  the  deadly  silence 
of  the  streets;  designed  to  purify  the  air  and  mitigate  the 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  245 

pestilence,  it  seemed  more  like  fuliginous  clouds  of  ominous 
portent,  a  somber  emblem  of  mourning.  Panic,  distress, 
mute  despair,  want,  had  fallen  upon  a  population  then 
strained  to  its  utmost,  with  the  bleeding  columns  of  its  regi- 
ments dyeing  the  hills  of  Maryland  with  their  blood,  until 
the  whole  air  was  filled  with  the  wail  of  the  widow  and 
the  orphan,  and  the  dead  could  no  longer  be  honored  with  the 
last  tribute  of  respect. 

"The  Wilmington  Journal  of  September  29,  1862,  gave 
all  its  available  editorial  space  to  chronicle,  for  the  first 
time,  the  character  of  the  epidemic,  and  in  a  few  brief  words 
to  notice  the  death  of  some  of  the  more  prominent  citizens. 
One  paragraph  in  the  simple  editorial  notice  ran  as  follows : 
'Dr.  James  H.  Dickson,  a  physician  of  the  highest  char- 
acter and  standing,  died  here  on  Sunday  morning  of  yellow 
fever.  Dr.  Dickson's  death  is  a  great  loss  to  the  profession 
and  to  the  community.'  Close  by,  in  another  column, 
from  the  pen  of  the  Acting  Adjutant,  Lieutenant  Van- 
Bokkelen,  of  the  Third  N.  C.  Infantry,  numbering  so  many 
gallant  souls  of  the  young  men  of  Wilmington,  was  the  list 
of  the  killed  and  wounded  on  the  bloody  field  of  Sharpsburg. 

"Distressed  and  bereaved  by  this  new  weight  of  sorrow, 
Wilmington  sat  in  the  mournful  habiliments  of  widow- 
hood, striving,  amidst  the  immensity  of  the  struggle,  to 
make  her  courageous  voice  heard  above  all  the  din  of  war, 
to  nerve  the  brave  hearts  who  stood  as  a  girdle  of  steel 
about  beleaguered  Richmond. 

"James  Fulton,  the  well-known  proprietor  of  the  Journal, 
the  wary  politician  and  cautious  editor,  striving  to  keep  the 
worst  from  the  world,  lest  the  enemy  might  use  it  to  our 
disadvantage,  often  ruthlessly  suppressed  from  his  limited 
space  such  matters  as  in  these  days  of  historical  research 
might  be  of  the  greatest  service.  There  were  two  predomi- 
nant topics  which  eclipsed  all  the  impending  sorrow  and 
distress:  first,  foreign  intervention,  for  the  purpose  of 
bringing  about  an  honorable  peace;  second,  warnings  to  the 
State  government  of  the  inadequacy  of  the  defense  of  Wil- 


246  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

mingion  harbor  against  the  enemy.  The  former  topic  was 
discussed  with  unvarying  pleasure.  The  horizon  of  the 
future  was  aglow  with  the  rosy  dreams  of  mandates  from  the 
British  and  French  Governments  which  would  bring  inde- 
pendence to  the  Confederacy  and  peace  and  quietness  to  the 
numerous  homes,  from  the  sea  to  the  mountains,  where 
sorrow  and  death  had  hung  like  a  pall.  It  is  not  strange, 
therefore,  that  the  few  publications  that  had  survived  the 
scarcity  of  printing  material  should  have  contained  so  little 
biographical  matter.  Comrades  dropped  on  the  right  and 
on  the  left,  but  the  ranks  were  closed  up,  the  hurried  tear 
wiped  away,  and  the  line  pushed  steadily  forward.  The 
disting-uished  physician,  or  general,  or  jurist,  as  well  as  the 
humble  private,  got  his  passing  notice  in  the  meagre  letters 
which  a  chance  correspondent  sent  to  one  of  the  few  news- 
papers, and  in  a  short  time  he  was  forgotten  in  the  fresh 
calamity  of  the  day." 

The  following  may  be  added  to  Doctor  Wood's  interesting 
account : 

In  September,  1862,  the  military  occupation,  the  laxity 
of  municipal  control,  the  constant  movement  of  troops,  the 
utter  neglect  of  sanitary  precautions,  the  non-enforcement 
of  quarantine  regulations,  practically  invited  the  introduc- 
tion of  yellow  fever  from  Nassau  by  the  daily  arrival  of 
blockade  runners  with  frequent  cases  of  infection. 

The  first  victim  was  a  German  wood-and-coal  dealer 
named  Swartzman,  whose  place  of  business  was  on  the 
wharf  quite  near  the  landing  place  of  the  blockade  runner 
Kate,  which  brought  the  infection.  My  father  was  informed 
promptly  of  this  by  our  physician.  Dr.  James  H.  Dick- 
son, who  advised  him  to  remove  his  family  at  once  to  the 
country.  As  my  father  had  seen  much  of  this  terrible 
scourge  in  the  West  Indies  and  in  South  America,  he  rec- 
ognized the  gravity  of  the  situation,  and  sent  us  all  to 
Duplin  County,  where  he  had  relatives.  Before  we  left,  a 
ludicrous  incident  occurred  which  has  stuck  in  my  memory. 
One  of  my  brothers  having  kept  to  his  room  from  indispo- 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  247 

sition,  was  at  once  the  object  of  miicli  solicitude.  My 
father,  being  a  bit  of  a  medico,  directed  the  boy  to  put  out 
his  tongue,  which  he  did  with  evident  reluctance,  to  the 
horror  of  my  father,  who  declared  he  had  symptoms  of  yel- 
low fever.  A  shame-faced  confession  that  the  patient  had 
been  secretly  chewing  tobacco,  which  had  caused  his  sick- 
ness, relieved  the  situation  and  calmed  our  fears.  The  year 
1862  is  still  remembered  by  our  older  people  as  a  period  of 
terror  and  dismay.  The  date  of  frost  was  delayed  nearly 
a  whole  month  that  fall  and  nothing  but  frost  would  stay 
the  fearful  pestilence. 

Among  the  devoted  band  of  Christians  who  remained  at 
their  post  of  duty  and  yielded  up  their  lives  while  render- 
ing succor  to  those  who  could  not  leave,  were  Rev.  R.  B. 
Drane,  rector  of  St.  James'  Parish,  aged  62  years;  James 
S.  Green,  treasurer  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon 
Railroad,  aged  63  years;  Dr.  James  H.  Dickson,  an  accom- 
plished physician  and  man  of  letters,  aged  59  years ;  John  W. 
K.  Dix,  a  prominent  merchant,  aged  30  years ;  Isaac  North- 
rop, a  large  mill  owner,  aged  67  years;  James  T.  Miller,  a 
prominent  citizen  and  the  collector  of  the  port,  aged  47  years ; 
Rev.  John  L.  Pritchard,  a  Baptist  minister,  who  fell  at  his 
post,  never  faltering,  aged  51  years.  Thomas  Clarkson  Worth, 
an  eminent  merchant,  after  laboring  among  the  sick  and  des- 
titute, yielded  his  life  to  the  plague  November  1,  1862  ;  Cyrus 
Stowe  Van  Amringe,  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  who  refused 
to  leave,  and  remained  to  help  the  sick,  died  at  his  post,  aged 
26  years.  Rev.  Father  Murphy,  a  Roman  Catholic  priest,  a 
hero  among  heroes,  worked  night  and  day  until  nearly  the 
last  victim  had  died,  and  then  fell  on  sleep.  Hundreds  of 
others  bravely  met  the  issue  and  remained  to  nurse  the  sick 
during  the  horror,  and  few  survived.  Of  about  3,000  in- 
habitants who  remained  in  the  city,  about  500  died  vdthin 
three  months. 

In  a  sketch  of  Wilmington  in  1867,  the  late  Joshua  T. 
James  wrote  of  the  epidemic  as  follows: 

"In  August,  1821,  the  yellow  fever  appeared  here,  intro- 


248  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

duced  bj  means  of  the  brig  John  London  from  Havana.  It 
raged  with  great  violence  for  about  six  weeks  and  a  large 
proportion  of  the  citizens  of  the  little  town,  then  number- 
ing only  about  2,500  inhabitants,  was  swept  away  by  it. 
In  the  autumn  of  1862  its  ravages  were  terrible.  It 
began  August  6th  and  ended  November  17th,  44G  persons 
having  died  of  the  plague  within  that  time.  In  this  in- 
stance, as  in  the  former,  it  was  imported  from  the  Indies, 
and  on  this  occasion  by  the  steamship  Kate,  a  blockade 
runner,  trading  between  this  port  and  Nassau.  For  over 
ten  weeks  it  raged  with  terrible  violence,  and  at  a  period, 
too,  when  it  was  most  difficult  to  combat  its  effects.  Medi- 
cines and  provisions  were  both  scarce  and  high  in  price  and 
the  little  luxuries  needed  for  the  convalescent  were  most 
difficult  to  obtain.  Those  of  the  frightened  inhabitants  that 
were  able  to  do  so,  fled  the  town ;  all  business  was  abandoned, 
and  the  closed  stores  and  silent  streets  gave  the  place  the 
appearance  of  a  deserted  city.  It  was  then,  in  that  time  of 
distress  and  suffering,  that  a  few  of  the  noble  spirits  of 
Wilmington  arose  equal  to  the  emergency.  Regardless  of 
self,  many  of  our  oldest  and  most  valued  citizens  remained 
behind  to  minister  to  the  wants  of  those  who  were  unable  to 
leave.  Distributing  food  to  the  poor,  medicine  and  attend- 
ance to  the  sick,  consolation  to  the  dying,  and  holy  burial  to 
the  dead,  they  remained  behind  when  many  others  had  fled, 
and  nobly  fulfilled  the  trust  they  had  assigned  themselves. 
Many  of  them  escaped,  but  some  fell,  and  those  from  the 
ranks  of  the  most  honored  and  esteemed  citizens  of  the  town. 
Rest  they  well,  and  rest  they  calmly.  They  need  no  monu- 
ment above  their  tombs ;  that  is  to  be  found  in  the  hearts  of 
those  who  knew  them." 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  249 

MRS.  AEMAND  J.  DeROSSET. 

(From  the  Confederate  Veteran.) 

This  noble  character  deserves  prominent  record  for  her 
services  to  the  South.  She  was  President  of  the  Soldiers' 
Aid  Society,  of  Wilmington,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end 
of  the  war. 

Endowed  with  administrative  ability,  which  called  forth 
the  remark,  "She  ought  to  have  been  a  general,"  gifted  with 
unusual  largeness  of  heart  and  breadth  of  sympathy,  she  was 
,a  leader  of  society,  yet  ever  alive  to  the  wants  and  suffer- 
ings of  the  poor  and  needy.  Under  her  direction  the  Sol- 
diers' Aid  Society  was  early  organized,  and  for  four  years 
did  its  work  of  beneficence  with  unabated  energy. 

The  ISTorth  Carolina  coast  was  especially  inviting  to  the 
attacks  of  the  enemy,  and  Mrs.  DeRosset's  household  was 
removed  to  the  interior  of  the  State.  Her  beautiful  home 
in  Wilmington  was  despoiled  largely  of  its  belongings; 
servants  and  children  were  taken  away,  but  she  soon  re- 
turned to  Wilmington,  where  her  devoted  husband  was  de- 
tained by  the  requirements  of  business,  and  here  devoted 
herself  to  the  work  of  helping  and  comforting  the  soldiers. 

Six  of  her  own  sons  and  three  sons-in-law  wore  the  gray. 
The  first  work  was  to  make  clothing  for  the  men.  Many  a 
poor  fellow  was  soon  without  a  change  of  clothing.  Large 
supplies  were  made  and  kept  on  hand.  Haversacks  were 
homemade.  Canteens  were  covered.  Cartridges  for  rifles, 
and  powder  bags  for  the  great  columbiads  were  made  by 
hundreds.  Canvas  bags  to  be  filled  with  sand  and  used  on 
the  fortifications  were  required  for  Fort  Fisher — and  much 
more  was  in  requisition.  The  ladies  would  daily  gather  at 
the  City  Hall  and  ply  their  busy  needles  or  machines,  with 
never  a  sigh  of  weariness. 

When  the  troops  were  being  massed  in  Virginia,  Wil- 
mington, being  the  principal  port  of  entry  for  the  Confed- 
eracy, was  naturally  an  advantageous  point  for  obtaining 
supplies   through   the   blockade,    and   Mrs.    DeRosset,    ever 


250  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

watching  the  ojDportunitj  to  secure  them,  had  a  large  room 
iA  her  dwelling  fitted  up  as  a  storeroom.  Many  a  veteran 
in  these  intervening  years  has  blessed  the  memory  of  Mrs. 
DeRosset  and  her  faithful  aids  for  the  comfort  and  refresh- 
ment so  lavishly  bestowed  upon  him.  Feasts  without  price 
were  constantly  spread  at  the  depot.  ISFor  were  the  spiritual 
needs  of  the  soldiers  neglected.  Bibles,  prayer-books,  and 
hymn  books  were  distributed.  Men  still  live  who  treasure 
their  war  Bibles  among  their  most  valued  possessions. 

Mrs.  DeRosset's  ability  to  overcome  difficulties  in  get- 
ting all  she  needed  for  the  men  was  the  constant  wonder  of 
those  who  daily  assisted  her  in  her  labors.  An  incident  of 
her  surpassing  executive  power  is  worthy  of  record.  After 
the  first  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  the  garrison,  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  gallant  officers.  Whiting  and  Lamb,  was  in 
great  peril  and  in  need  of  reinforcements,  which  came  in 
Hoke's  division  of  several  thousand  men — Clingman's 
Kirkland's,  Colquitt's,  and  Hagood's  brigades — and  with 
some  of  the  N'orth  Carolina  Junior  Reserves.  The  wires 
brought  the  news  that  in  a  few  hours  they  would  arrive, 
hungry  and  footsore.  Mrs.  DeRosset  was  asked  if  the  ladies 
could  feed  them.  The  ready  reply  was  flashed  back:  "Of 
course  we  can,"  and  she  proved  equal  to  the  task.  Through 
her  energies  and  resources,  and  those  of  her  able  corps  of 
assistants,  she  redeemed  her  pledge.  Alas !  all  efforts  to 
relieve  the  garrison  failed,  and  many  heroic  lives  were  sacri- 
ficed. The  fort  fell.  Whiting  and  Lamb  were  both  seri- 
ously wounded  and  carried  off  to  prison,  and  our  last  avail- 
able port  was  in  possession  of  the  enemy. 

The  harrowing  scenes  of  hospital  life  followed,  and  here, 
as  elsewhere,  Mrs.  DeRosset's  labors  were  abundant.  The 
sick  were  ministered  to  by  tender  hands,  the  wounded  care- 
fully nursed,  and  the  dead  decently  buried.  The  moving 
spirit  in  all  these  works  of  beneficence  was  the  Soldiers'  Aid 
Society,  directed  by  Mrs.  DeRosset. 

When  all  was  over,  Mrs.  DeRosset  was  the  first  to  urge 
the  organization  of  the  Ladies'  Memorial  Association,  for 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  251 

perpetuating  the  memory  of  the  brave  soldiers  who  died  for 
our  Cause.  Though  persistently  refusing  to  accept  oflBce,  she 
remained  a  faithful  member  of  the  Association  as  long  as  she 
lived. 

A  sketch  of  Mrs.  DeRosset's  work  during  the  Confederacy 
would  not  be  complete  without  some  recognition  of  the 
valuable  assistance  given  her  by  all  of  her  colleagues,  and 
especially  by  the  Vice-President,  Mrs.  Alfred  Martin.  That 
she  was  looked  up  to  as  their  leader  does  not  in  the  least  de- 
gree detract  from  the  value  of  their  services,  for  without 
strong  hands  and  willing  hearts  the  head  would  be  of  little 
avail,  and  she  never  failed  to  give  due  meed  of  appre- 
ciation to  all  who  helped  her  in  her  work.  From  her  own. 
countrywomen  such  devotion  was  to  be  expected,  but  the  Ger- 
man women  of  the  city  entered  into  the  work,  zealously  giving 
their  means  as  well  as  their  time  to  the  call  of  their  Presi- 
dent. Were  it  not  open  to  a  charge  of  invidiousness,  a  few 
names  might  be  singled  out  as  especially  helpful  and  in- 
terested in  serving  the  country  of  their  adoption,  with  the 
unwearied  fidelity  of  true-hearted  women  of  every  land. 

Her  labors  ended,  Mrs.  DeRosset  has  for  years  rested 
peacefully  under  the  shade  of  the  Oakdale  trees,  waiting  her 
joyful  resurrection.  The  daughters  of  the  South  could 
have  no  better,  purer  model,  should  their  beloved  country 
ever  call  on  them,  as  it  did  on  her,  in  time  of  need. 

Of  her  own  sons,  one  noble  boy  of  seventeen  sleeps  in 
Oakdale  Cemetery,  with  "Only  a  Private"  inscribed  on  a 
stone  marking  his  resting  place. 

Her  oldest  son,  Col.  Wm.  L.  DeRosset,  of  the  gallant 
Third  North  Carolina  Infantry,  was  wounded  nigh  unto 
death  at  Sharpsburg.  He  had  succeeded  his  brother-in-law, 
Col.  Gaston  Meares,  in  the  command  of  his  regiment,  that 
noble  ofiicer  having  fallen  at  Malvern  Hill. 

Her  second  son.  Dr.  M.  John  DeRosset,  assistant  sur- 
geon at  Bellevue  Hospital  'New  York,  with  most  flattering 
offers  of  promotion  in  a  Kew  York  regiment,  resigned  his 
commission,   came  South,   and  was  commissioned   assistant 


252  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

surgeon,  with  orders  to  report  to  Jackson,  in  whose  com- 
mand he  shared  the  perils  of  the  famous  Valley  Campaign 
of  1862.  Later,  he  was  one  of  the  surgeons  in  charge  of  the 
hospital  in  the  Baptist  College,  Richmond. 

Another  son,  Capt.  A.  L.  DeRosset,  of  the  Third  Xorth 
Carolina  Infantry,  was  several  times  disabled  by  slight 
wounds,  and  at  Averasboro  was  left  for  dead  on  the  field. 
He  owes  his  recovery  to  the  skill  and  care  of  a  Federal 
surgeon,  into  whose  hands  he  fell. 

Louis  H.  DeRosset,  being  physically  incapacitated  for 
active  duty,  was  detailed  in  the  Ordnance  and  Quarter- 
master's Departments,  and  was  sent  to  Nassau  on  business 
connected  with  the  latter. 

Thomas  C.  DeRosset,  the  youngest  of  the  six,  a  boy  at 
school,  enlisted  before  the  call  for  the  Junior  Reserves,  and 
was  detailed  for  duty  under  Maj.  M.  P.  Taylor,  at  the 
Fayetteville  arsenal.  He  died  in  1878  from  sunstroke 
when  in  command  of  the  Whiting  Rifles,  attending  the 
memorial  services  at  Oakdale  Cemetery. 

War  Prices  in  Wilmington. 

As  the  war  progressed  the  prices  of  food  and  clothing 
advanced  in  proportion  to  the  depreciation  of  Confederate 
money ;  the  plainest  necessities  were  almost  unobtainable, 
—$50  for  a  ham,  $500  for  a  barrel  of  flour,  $500  for  a 
pair  of  boots,  $600  for  a  suit  of  clothes,  $1,500  for  an  over- 
coat, and  $100  a  pound  for  coffee  or  tea,  were  readily  paid 
as  the  fortunes  of  the  Confederacy  waned.  Coffee  was  per- 
haps the  greatest  luxury  and  was  seldom  used;  substitutes 
of  beans,  potatoes,  and  rye,  with  "long  sweetening," — sor- 
ghum— having  been  generally  adopted.  Within  a  mile 
or  two  of  our  temporary  home  in  the  country  there  lived  two 
unattractive  spinsters  of  mature  age,  one  of  whom,  in  the 
other's  absence,  was  asked  by  an  old  reprobate  of  some 
means  in  the  neighborhood  to  marry  him,  a  preposterous 
proposal,  which  she  indignantly  rejected.  Upon  the  return 
of  the  absent  sister,  however,  she  was  made  to  feel  that  she 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  253 

had  thrown  away  the  golden  opportunity  of  a  lifetime;  for, 
"Why,"  said  the  sister,  "didn't  you  know  he  has  a  bag  of 
coffee  in  his  house?" 

Another  true  incident  will  also  serve  to  illustrate  the 
comic  side  of  the  great  crisis.  Our  evening  meal  consisted 
of  milk,  rye  coffee,  yopon  tea,  honey,  and  one  wheaten 
biscuit  each,  with  well  prepared  corn  muffins  and  hominy 
ad  lihitum.  The  biscuit,  however,  were  valued  beyond 
price,  and  the  right  of  each  individual  to  them  was  closely 
guarded  by  the  younger  members  of  the  family.  One  even- 
ing there  appeared  just  before  supper  an  itinerant  preacher, 
who  was  made  welcome  to  the  best  we  had.  Addressing 
himself  with  vigor  to  the  tempting  plate  of  biscuit,  and 
ignoring  the  despised  muffins,  which  were  politely  pressed 
upon  him  by  our  dismayed  youngsters  at  his  side,  he  actu- 
ally devoured  the  entire  dozen  with  apparent  ease  and  great 
relish.  Upon  being  informed  at  the  hour  of  retiring  that 
it  would  be  inconvenient  to  serve  his  breakfast  at  daylight, 
when  he  desired  to  depart,  he  said,  to  our  amazement,  that, 
rather  than  disturb  us  in  the  early  morning,  he  would  take 
his  breakfast  then  and  there  before  going  to  bed.  But 
there  were  no  more  biscuit  to  serve. 


CONFEDERATE  HEROES. 

Erom  personal  knowledge  and  from  available  records  I 
have  added  to  this  narrative  the  following  names  of  the 
living  and  the  dead  identified  with  Wilmington,  which  are 
held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  those  who  recall  their  de- 
votion to  the  Lost  Cause.  Hundreds  of  others,  equally 
meritorious,  are  upon  the  roll  of  honor,  but  because  of  lim- 
ited space  I  can  include  only  the  names  of  company  and 
regimental  leaders  of  the  lower  Cape  Fear,  and  some  others 
whose  record  is  known  to  me. 

Prior  to  the  formal  secession  of  the  State  of  North  Caro- 
lina from  the  Union,  affairs  in  Charleston  had  taken  such  a 
turn  that  the  citizens  of  Wilmington  anticipated  the  occupa- 


254  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

tion  and  strengthening  of  Forts  Caswell  and  Johnston  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear,  by  the  Federal  Government. 
To  prevent  that  a  Committee  of  Safety  was  organized 
in  Wilmington,  and  a  call  made  for  volunteers  to  enlist  for 
immediate  service.  This  call  was  promptly  answered,  and 
John  J.  Hedrick  was  chosen  commander.  These  "Minute 
Men"  embarked  on  January  9,  1861,  for  the  mouth  of  the 
river,  and  being  joined  by  a  Smithville  detachment,  speedily 
took  possession  of  the  two  forts. 

The  Cape  Fear  Light  Artillery  was  recruited  from  the 
local  military  companies,  and  especially  from  the  body  of 
"Minute  Men"  that  took  possession  of  Forts  Caswell  and 
Johnston  prior  to  the  formal  secession  of  the  State.  Under 
this  name  the  company  served  throughout  the  war. 

Gen.  W.  H.  C.  Whiting,  having  married  Miss  Walker,  of 
Wilmington,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war  was  a  Wilmingtonian 
by  adoption.  The  day  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter  he  came 
to  Wilmington  and  by  courtesy  assumed  command,  and 
for  some  weeks  directed  the  preparations  for  defense.  He 
was,  however,  needed  at  the  front  and  was  chief  engineer 
with  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  at  Harper's  Ferry  and  at 
Manassas.  After  brilliant  service  in  Virginia,  on  Novem- 
ber 17,  1862,  he  again  assumed  command  of  the  defenses 
of  the  Cape  Fear. 

Wilmington  was  the  most  important  port  of  the  Confed- 
eracy for  the  receipt  of  supplies  and  munitions  of  war,  and 
an  officer  recognized  in  both  armies  as  without  a  superior 
as  an  engineer  was  entrusted  with  its  defense.  General 
Whiting  entered  the  Army  with  the  highest  record  ever 
made  by  any  graduate  at  West  Point.  Having  been  before 
the  war  in  charge  of  the  improvements  of  the  harbor  and 
the  lower  part  of  the  river,  he  Was  entirely  familiar  with  the 
topography  of  the  country,  and  he  exerted  every  energy  for  a 
successful  defense.  Later,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  a  division  in  Virginia,  but  in  the  summer  of  1864  he 
returned  to  the  Cape  Fear. 

General  Whiting  was  mortally  wounded   in  the  second 


THE  ^YAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  255 

attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  when  he  exposed  himself  with  unsur- 
passed heroism.  He  died  a  prisoner  at  Fort  Columbus, 
New  York  Harbor,  March  10,  1865. 

Col.  Gaston  Meares  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Third 
Eegiment  on  its  first  organization,  with  Robert  H.  Cowan, 
lieutenant  colonel,  and  William  L.  DeEosset,  major. 

Mr.  Meares,  when  quite  a  young  man,  moved  to  the  West 
from  Wilming-ton,  and  engaged  in  the  Mexican  War,  and 
had  attained  the  rank  of  colonel.  On  the  secession  of 
North  Carolina,  he  reported  for  duty  to  the  Governor 
and  was  at  once  commissioned  as  colonel,  and  given  com- 
mand of  the  Third  Eegiment,  then  just  organized.  Colonel 
Meares  was  a  man  of  marked  individuality,  respected  by 
his  superior  officers,  beloved  by  his  subordinates,  and  com- 
manding the  admiration  and  confidence  of  the  men  of  his 
regiment,  for  he  was  always  intrepid,  and  in  him  they 
recognized  a  leader  who  would  lead. 

At  Malvern  Hill,  July  1,  1862,  while  on  foot  in  front 
of  the  line,  and,  from  a  slight  elevation,  surveying  the 
enemy  through  his  field  glasses,  he  was  instantly  killed  by 
a  slug  from  a  shrapnel  fired  from  a  battery  directly  in 
front  and  not  over  twenty-five  yards  distant. 

Major  DeEosset  succeeded  his  brother-in-law.  Colonel 
Meares,  in  command  of  the  regiment;  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Cowan  having  been  promoted  before  that  to  the  colonelcy  of 
the  Eighteenth  Eegiment. 

William  Lord  DeEosset  was  a  member  of  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  prominent  families  of  Wilmington,  being 
the  eldest  of  six  sons  of  Dr.  Armand  J.  DeEosset,  all  of 
whom  served  in  the  Confederate  Army  except  one,  who  be- 
ing physically  incapacitated  for  active  duty  was  detailed  in 
the  Ordnance  and  Quartermaster's  Departments.  In  1861 
Wm.  L.  DeEosset  was  captain  of  the  Wilmington  Light 
Infantry.  When  Fort  Sumter  was  bombarded,  several  vol- 
imteer  companies  were  ordered  to  occupy  Fort  Caswell, 
the  Light  Infantry  being  among  them.  Later,  when  the 
Constitutional    Convention    authorized   the   organization   of 


256  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

ten  regiments,  enlisted  for  the  war  and  known  as  State 
Troops,  he  was  commissioned  major  of  the  Third  Regiment. 
Succeeding  Colonel  Meares  in  command,  he  led  the  regi- 
ment into  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg  in  September,  1862. 
He  was  seriously  wounded;  and,  finding  himself  perma- 
nently disabled,  he  resigned,  and  was  enrolled  in  another 
branch  of  the  service. 

When  Fort  Caswell  was  first  occupied,  January  10, 
1861,  the  Smithville  Guards,  a  volunteer  company,  of  which 
Stephen  D.  Thurston  was  captain,  joined  the  men  enrolled 
in  Wilmington,  and  took  part  in  occupying  Forts  Johnston 
and  Caswell.  Captain  Thurston  was  a  few  months  later 
appointed  captain  of  Company  B,  of  the  Third  Regiment; 
and  before  Sharpsburg  he  had  risen  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant 
colonel.  At  Sharpsburg  when  Colonel  DeRosset  fell  wounded, 
Lieut.  Col.  Stephen  D.  Thurston  took  immediate  command  of 
the  regiment,  and  proved  a  brave  and  valiant  soldier,  lead- 
ing the  Third  in  gallant  style  during  the  rest  of  the  battle, 
where  they  "were  in  the  vortex  of  the  fire,  and  proved  their 
endurance,  tenacity,  and  valor."  Of  the  twenty-seven  offi- 
cers who  went  into  action  on  that  memorable  morning  all 
save  three  were  disabled,  seven  being  killed.  Colonel  Thurs- 
ton was  disabled  for  several  months,  but  returned  to  his 
command  in  September,  1864.  He  was  again  seriously 
wounded  on  the  19th  of  September,  at  Second  Winchester. 
Meanwhile,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Parsley  was  in  command  dur- 
ing the  absence  of  Colonel  Thurston. 

William  Murdock  Parsley,  in  April,  1861,  organized  and 
was  commissioned  captain  of  a  company  composed  chiefly  of 
the  young  men  of  Wilming-ton.  They  had  formed  a  com- 
pany in  the  fall  of  1860,  under  the  name  of  "Cape  Fear  Rifle- 
men," and  were  among  those  who  occupied  Fort  Caswell. 
After  North  Carolina  seceded  the  Cape  Fear  Riflemen  re- 
turned to  Wilmington  and  disbanded.  They  were  almost  im- 
mediately reorganized  under  Captain  Parsley  and  completely 
uniformed  by  his  father,  Mr.  0.  G.  Parsley,  sr.  The  Cap- 
tain was  just  twenty  years  old  and  many  of  his  men  not 


TEE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  257 

mucii  older.  The  company  was  attached  to  the  Third  Regi- 
ment, one  of  the  ten  organized  as  State  Troops,  and  enlisted 
for  the  war.  They  were  ordered  to  Richmond  in  June, 
and,  arriving  just  after  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines,  Mechan- 
icsville  was  their  first  engagement.  They  took  part  in  the 
Seven  Days'  Battles,  and  on  July  1st,  at  Malvern  Hill,  Cap- 
tain Parsley  was  severely  wounded  by  a  minie  ball  through 
the  neck;  but  after  a  three-months'  furlough,  he  returned 
to  his  command  and  was  in  every  battle  up  to  Sharpsburg, 
September  lY,  1862. 

Before  that  time  he  had  by  regular  gradation  reached  the 
rank  of  major  and,  subsequently,  on  the  resignation  of  Col- 
onel DeRosset  and  the  promotion  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Thurston,  he  became  lieutenant  colonel.  In  the  campaign  of 
1863,  known  as  the  Pennsylvania  Campaign,  Colonel  Parsley 
had  command  of  the  regiment.  He  led  it  in  the  charge  at 
Gulp's  Hill  on  the  3d  of  July,  when,  with  the  Maryland 
Battalion,  they  took  possession  of  the  enemy's  works.  The 
Third  was  gTeatly  reduced  by  severe  fighting  at  Chancellors- 
ville  and  had  had  no  chance  to  recruit  its  ranks  since.  This 
proud  regiment  that  went  into  the  field  over  a  thousand 
strong  in  the  Seven  Days'  Battles  was,  after  Gettysburg,  so 
much  reduced  that  the  major  at  the  head  of  the  column 
and  the  assistant  surgeon,  at  the  foot,  could  carry  on  a 
conversation  without  effort.  Evei*y  officer  of  Major  Pars- 
ley's old  company,  the  Cape  Fear  Riflemen,  was  killed. 

One  of  the  original  members  of  this  old  company,  writ- 
ing in  1898  of  Colonel  Parsley,  says,  "As  brave  as  the  bravest, 
kind  and  considerate  towards  inferiors  in  rank,  he  was  at 
all  times  thoughtful  and  careful  of  his  men  in  every  way. 
I  believe  all  loved  him.  I  know  I  loved  him,  for  he  was 
my  good  friend."  Another  comrade  says,  "The  Major  him- 
self, only  22  or  23  years  old,  had  been  in  every  engagement 
from  the  Seven  Days'  Battles  to  Gettysburg.  His  training 
had  been  under  the  eye  of  Col.  Gaston  Meares,  and,  as 
promotion  followed  promotion.  Colonel  Parsley  was  always 
a  disciplinarian  of  the  progressive  type.     On  occasion  he 


258  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

could  be  a  boy  and  enter  a  wrestling  match  in  camp  with  all 
the  zest  of  a  schoolboy,  but  woe  to  the  officer  who  presumed 
upon  this  to  take  official  liberties." 

Between  Gettysburg  and  Chancellorsville  he  received  two 
slight  wounds,  one  being  a  narrow  escape  from  death  by  the 
glancing  of  a  ball  on  the  button  of  his  coat.  At  Spottsyl- 
vania,  May  12,  1864,  Colonel  Thurston  being  absent,  wound- 
ed, Lieutenant  Colonel  Parsley  led  the  regiment,  and  with 
the  greater  part  of  it,  after  a  desperate  hand  to  hand  fight 
at  the  "Horse  Shoe,"  or  "Bloody  Angle,"  he  was  captured 
and  confined  at  Fort  Delaware.  From  there,  with  fifty 
other  officers,  he  was  transferred  to  Charleston  Harbor  on 
the  prison  ship  Dragon  and  anchored  in  the  line  of  fire 
from  Charleston,  "in  retaliation"  for  the  quartering  of  some 
Federal  officers,  prisoners,  in  the  city  of  Charleston  as  a  pro- 
tection to  the  city,  full  of  non-combatants,  against  the  Federal 
firing  from  the  "Swamp  Angel  Battery." 

The  prisoners  on  the  Dragon  were  kept  between  decks, 
overcrowded,  near  a  stove  where  all  the  cooking  for  the  whole 
ship  was  done.  Ventilation  was  bad,  and  the  suffering 
from  the  heat  almost  unbearable.  They  were  supplied 
scantily  with  the  coarsest  of  food  and  subjected  to  all  kinds 
of  indignities.  From  here  they  were  exchanged  on  the  3d 
of  August.  Colonel  Parsley  returned  to  the  Army  not  long 
afterwards,  taking  with  him  a  number  of  recruits  for  his 
regiment.  He  shared  the  fortunes  of  the  Third  till  April, 
1865.  Just  three  days  before  Lee's  surrender,  in  the  en- 
gagement at  Sailors  Creek  during  the  retreat  to  Appomat- 
tox, when  only  twenty-four  years  old,  he  met  his  death  by  a 
minie  ball  fired  by  a  sharpshooter,  falling  with  his  face  to  the 
foe. 

Capt.  W.  T.  Ennet,  originally  of  Onslow  County,  was 
promoted  to  be  major  after  the  resignation  of  Colonel  De- 
Eosset,  and  always  after  that  commanded  the  regiment  in  the 
absence  of  Colonel  Parsley.  He  was  unfortunately  captured 
at  Spottsylvania  and  sent  to  Fort  Delaware,  and  was  among 
those  taken  to  Charleston  Harbor  on  the  prison  ship  Dragon, 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  259 

suffering  the  hardships  of  imprisonment  with  the  rest. 
Major  Ennet  was  hj  profession  a  physician  and  highly  ac- 
complished.  He  was  also  a  brave  soldier  and  a  warm  friend. 

Col.  Robert  H.  Cowan  was  first  chosen  lieutenant  col- 
onel of  the  Third  Eegiment,  but  in  the  summer  of  1862  was 
elected  colonel  of  the  Eighteenth.  The  Third  Regiment 
parted  with  sincere  regret  from  Colonel  Cowan.  The  whole 
command,  both  rank  and  file,  loved  him  and  recognized  him 
as  one  of  those  by  whom  the  regiment  had  been  brought  to  its 
fine  efiiciency.  The  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  was  mani- 
fested on  his  departure  by  the  presentation  to  him  by  the 
regiment  of  a  very  fine  horse.  Colonel  Cowan  was  a  native 
of  Wilmington  and  was  prominent  in  the  politics  of  the 
State.  No  man  was  more  loved  and  admired  than  he.  His 
gallantry  was  unequaled,  while  his  charming  personality 
and  graceful  manners  are  well  remembered  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  was  wounded  severely  at  the  last  of  the  Seven 
Days'  battles  around  Richmond,  and  being  disabled  from 
service,  resigned  in  ISTovember,  1862. 

Col.  John  L.  Cantwell's  military  career  began  with 
the  Mexican  War.  The  records  say,  "that  seldom  has  the 
flag  of  any  country  waved  over  a  braver  soldier."  As  col- 
onel of  the  Thirtieth  Regiment  ISTorth  Carolina  Militia  he 
took  possession  of  Forts  Caswell  and  Johnston  on  April  16, 
1861,  being  authorized  by  the  Governor  to  do  so.  On  its  organ- 
ization, April  13,  1862,  Colonel  Cantwell  was  elected  colonel 
of  the  Fifty-first  Regiment,  but  resigned  and  was  appointed 
lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Fifty-ninth  Regiment,  which  was 
most  active  in  several  campaigns  in  North  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia. "At  the  battle  of  Middleburg  on  June  18,  1863,  at  the 
head  of  a  detachment  of  his  regiment,  after  fiercely  contesting 
every  inch  of  ground  with  a  force  several  times  larger  than  his 
own,  he  stood  up  urging  his  men  not  to  yield,  until,  sur- 
rounded and  overpowered,  his  sword  was  snatched  from  his 
hand  and  he  was  made  prisoner."  Colonel  Cantwell  wrote  a 
minute  and  exhaustive  account  of  prison  life  on  Morris 
18 


260  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Island,  and  he  was  among  the  600  prisoners  who  were  ex- 
posed to  a  cross  fire  on  that  island. 

Besides  these,  a  host  of  others  whose  services  should  not 
be  forgotten  crowd  the  memory.  Brave  Maj.  Alexander 
MacEae,  of  age  too  advanced  for  service  in  the  field  in  Vir- 
ginia, yet  accepted  command  of  the  First  Battalion  of  Heavy 
Artillery  in  General  Hebert's  brigade,  and  did  duty  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  until  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher.  The 
gallant  old  father  was  worthily  followed  by  his  brave  sons, 
William,  brigadier  general  in  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia; Henry,  major  of  the  Seventh  Eegiment;  Eobert  B., 
major  of  the  Eighth,  and  Walter  G.,  captain  in  the  Seventh, 
after  serving  in  the  Eighteenth  and  in  the  Heavy  Artillery 
at  Fort  Fisher,  and  in  Captain  McNeill's  Partisan  Eangers. 

John  J.  Hedrick  was  major  of  engineers.  He  was  a  brave 
and  skillful  artillery  commander,  and  had  been  in  active 
service  since  the  beginning  of  the  war.  He  had  charge  of 
the  building  of  Fort  Fisher  and  other  forts  and  works  in  the 
vicinity,  one  small  fort  on  Bald  Head  being  named  Fort 
Hedrick  in  his  honor.  When  the  Fortieth  Eegiment  (Third 
Artillery)  was  organized  in  December,  1863,  Major  Hedrick 
was  appointed  its  colonel.  This  regiment  took  part  in  the 
defense  of  Fort  Fisher,  December  24  and  25,  1864,  and 
January  13,  1865,  and  on  January  I7th,  it  was  ordered 
to  Fort  Anderson  about  ten  miles  up  the  river,  where 
the  garrison  of  about  900  men  was  under  the  immediate 
command  of  Colonel  Hedrick.  On  February  I7th,  the  enemy 
attacked  the  fort  in  the  rear  with  about  10,000  infantry, 
while  Porter,  with  a  fleet  of  sixteen  gunboats  and  ironclads, 
lying  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  fort,  quickly  de- 
molished the  guns.  In  this  fight,  under  Colonel  Hedrick'a 
leadership,  great  bravery  and  heroism  were  shown,  but  find- 
ing the  command  in  danger  of  being  cut  off  by  a  heavy 
column  of  infantry  in  the  rear.  Colonel  Hedrick  determined 
to  evacuate  the  fort.  Carrying  all  the  light  guns,  including 
the  Whitworth  cannon,  they  fell  back  towards  Wilmington. 
Later,  while  on  the  way  to  meet  the  enemy  advancing  from 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  261 

New  Bern,  there  was  a  battle  at  Jackson's  Mills,  in  which 
about  2,000  Federal  prisoners  were  captured;  but  the  Con- 
federate loss  was  heavy.  Here,  while  gallantly  leading  his 
regiment  in  a  charge  upon  the  enemy,  Colonel  Hedrick  was 
seriously  wounded. 

John  D.  Barry  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  I,  Eighth 
Eegiment,  and  on  the  reorganization  was  elected  captain  of 
the  company.  On  the  fall  of  the  gallant  Colonel  Purdie,  of 
Bladen  County,  in  June,  1863,  he  became  colonel  of  the 
regiment.  He  was  a  valiant  and  dashing  officer,  and  nobly 
upheld  the  traditions  of  his  family,  one  of  the  best  of  the 
Cape  Fear  section,  his  grandfather  being  Gen.  Thomas  Owen 
and  his  great  uncle.  Gov.  James  Owen.  The  companies  com- 
posing the  Eighth  Eegiment  of  Volunteers  (afterwards  the 
Eighteenth  North  Carolina  State  Troops)  were: 

The  Wilmington  Light  Infantry,  Capt.  Henry  Savage; 
the  Wilmington  Kifle  Guards,  Capt.  Robert  Williams; 
the  Scotch  Boys,  Capt.  Charles  Malloy ;  the  German  Volun- 
teers, Capt.  C.  Cornehlson;  and  the  companies  of  Capt. 
George  Tait,  of  Bladen  County ;  Capt.  Robert  Tait,  of  Bla- 
den County ;  Captain  Norment,  of  Robeson  County ;  Captain 
Gore,  of  Whiteville,  Columbus  County ;  Capt.  J.  R,  Hawes, 
of  Long  Creek,  New  Hanover  County. 

About  the  first  of  August,  1864,  General  Lane  being 
wounded.  Colonel  Barry  was  appointed  temporary  brigadier 
general  and  commanded  the  brigade,  skirmishing  almost 
daily  till  the  28th.  Subsequently,  while  on  a  reconnoitering 
tour,  Colonel  Barry  was  wounded  by  a  sharpshooter.  Some 
time  in  the  latter  part  of  1864,  as  General  Lane  returned  to 
the  brigade,  Colonel  Barry,  on  account  of  his  wounds  and  im- 
paired health,  was  assigned  to  department  duty  with  his 
regular  grade  of  colonel. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  Wilmington  and 
in  partnership  with  Wm.  H.  Bernard,  began  the  publication 
of  the  Dispatch.  Only  a  few  years  were  left  him  of  broken 
health,  and  nearly  fifty  years  ago  he  died  in  the  old  house 
he  had  left  in  vigorous  youth  and  with  high  hopes  in  1861. 


262  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

A  few  years  ago,  Col.  John  D.  Taylor  passed  from  our 
midst,  leaving  a  great  name  as  a  soldier  and  a  Christian  gen- 
tleman, with  an  affectionate  memory  of  his  manly  figure,  his 
gentle,  sympathetic  smile,  and  the  empty  sleeve  he  wore.  He 
was  captain  in  the  Thirty-sixth  Regiment  (Second  Artillery), 
was  promoted  to  lieutenant  colonel,  and  served  at  different 
points  in  defense  of  the  Cape  Fear.  At  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher,  Colonel  Taylor  and  a  part  of  his  regiment  were  ab- 
sent on  leave,  but  they  made  their  way  to  the  field  of  Benton- 
ville,  and  took  part  in  that  battle,  covering  themselves  with 
glory  as  part  of  the  "Eed  Infantry" ;  Colonel  Taylor  losing 
his  left  arm  in  that  battle. 

Upon  the  death  of  Colonel  Taylor,  the  following  tribute 
of  a  devoted  friend  was  published  in  the  Star^  May  22,  1912 : 

"A  fellow  townsman  recently  said  to  the  writer:  'I  never 
passed  Colonel  Taylor  upon  the  street  without  exercising  the 
privilege  of  shaking  his  hand,  because  I  believed  that  he 
exemplified  in  his  daily  life,  to  a  remarkable  degree,  those 
virtues  which  adorn  the  character  of  the  Southern  Christian 
gentleman.' 

"His  old  time  urbanity,  his  winsome  smile,  his  almost  wom- 
anly tenderness,  his  gentle  patience,  his  childlike  faith, 
drew  him  to  our  hearts  and  we  loved  him.  Probably  no 
citizen  of  our  community  was  more  generally  respected. 
There  was  a  quiet  dignity  in  this  serene,  devout  Christian, 
which  told  of  conflicts  won  while  learning  to  endure  hardness 
as  a  good  soldier,  and  of  a  peace  which  passes  the  under- 
standing of  this  world,  which  enabled  him  to  look  o'er  heights 
of  toil  and  sacrifice  and  find  his  chief  meed  in  thoughts  of 
duty  done. 

"During  his  long  and  honored  life  he  had  inspired  the 
hearts  and  guided  the  steps  of  worthy  sons  and  daughters  in 
the  way  of  life,  to  the  end  that  they  might  'glorify  God  and 
enjoy  Him  forever.'  His  children  rise  up  and  call  him 
blessed. 

"In  public  life  he  discharged  his  official  duties  with  dili- 
gence,  ability,  impartiality,   and  uprightness.     Party  lines 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  263 

vanished  in  the  pure  light  of  his  moral  excellence,  and  his 
return  to  office  at  the  expiration  of  each  term,  without  a  dis- 
senting vote,  attest  the  abiding  confidence  of  his  fellow 
citizens. 

"Eminent  among  the  local  leaders  of  the  Lost  Cause,  he 
believed,  with  his  great  chieftain,  that  Duty  is  the  sublimest 
word  in  our  language,  'and  by  it  as  a  pilot  star,  he  ever 
steered  his  steadfast  course.'  He  went  into  his  last  battle  at 
Bentonville  with  Company  A,  Captain  Kankin,  Company 
B,  Captain  Taylor,  Company  C,  Captain  Brown,  and  Cap- 
tain McDougal's  company,  and  a  remnant  of  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Eegiment,  in  all  350  men;  and  he  emerged  with  nine- 
teen other  survivors,  an  honorable  record,  and  an  empty 
sleeve.  Rankin,  Taylor,  McDougal  and  Brown  were  des- 
perately wounded,  and  Colonel  Taylor  was  the  only  officer 
who  survived  the  desperate  and  bloody  charge  of  the  'Eed 
Infantry.' 

"He  sheathed  his  sword  when  the  cause  for  which  he 
fought  was  lost,  but  he  put  on  the  invisible  armor  of  the 
Soldier  of  the  Cross,  and  he  has  fought  a  good  fight  and  laid 
hold  on  Eternal  Life.  The  greater  number  of  his  devoted 
comrades  have  crossed  over  the  river,  and  they  rest  with  their 
commander  under  the  shades  of  the  trees. 

"We  read  that  at  the  roll  call  of  the  flower  of  l^apoleon's 
army,  the  Imperial  Guard,  as  silence  fell  upon  the  utterance 
of  a  name  which  death  had  claimed  from  the  arms  of  victory, 
a  comrade  would  step  forward  from  the  ranks,  and,  raising 
his  hand  in  grave  salute,  would  answer:  'Died  on  the  field 
of  honor !'  The  thin  gray  line  of  Appomattox,  diminishing 
day  by  day  as  it  yields  to  the  call  of  the  great  Conqueror,  still 
closes  up  its  broken  ranks  of  hoary  heads  and  feeble  knees. 
Soon  it  will  vanish  away  and  there  will  be  no  reverent  com- 
rade's voice  to  answer  the  roll  call  of  the  dead. 

"But  Death's  truer  name  is  Onward,     'l^o  discordance  in 

the  roll  of  that  eternal  harmony,  whereto  the  worlds  beat 

time !' 

'The  glory  born  of  goodness  never  dies. 

Its  flag  is  not  half-masted  in  the  skies!  * 


264  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"In  the  sessions  of  his  beloved  church,  our  friend  will  be 
greatly  missed — in  no  circle  beyond  his  beautiful  home  life 
was  he  more  welcome  than  in  that  of  the  church  of  his  fathers. 

"David  Worth,  DuBrutz  Cutlar,  Kenneth  Murchison,  Wil- 
liam DeRosset,  Alfred  Waddell,  John  D.  Taylor,  classmates 
all  at  Chapel  Hill,  were  of  the  flower  of  Wilmington,  and 
they  are  gone ;  but  to  live  in  the  hearts  of  those  we  love  is  not 
to  die.  'By  the  light  of  their  lofty  deeds  and  kindly  virtues, 
memory  gazes  back  into  the  past  and  is  content ;  by  the  light 
of  Revelation  hope  looks  beyond  the  grave  into  the  bright  day 
of  immortality  and  is  happy.'  " 

Edward  D.  Hall  organized  at  Wilmington,  in  the  spring 
of  1861,  a  company  composed  principally  of  Irishmen ;  and 
no  better,  or  more  loyal  men  or  braver  soldiers  could  be  found. 
When  work  or  fighting  was  to  be  done  they  were  always 
ready.  This  company  was  first  stationed  at  Fort  Caswell; 
was  later  sent  to  Weldon  and  attached  to  the  Second  Regi- 
ment, North  Carolina  Infantry,  and  ordered  to  Richmond, 
and  from  there  to  various  points  in  Virginia  until  the  spring 
of  1862,  when  it  was  returned  to  North  Carolina  with  Gen- 
eral Holmes'  division,  and  was  afterwards  detached  and  sent 
to  the  Cape  Fear  and  stationed  at  fortifications  on  the  river. 

In  March,  1862,  Captain  Hall  was  made  colonel  of  the 
Forty-sixth  Regiment,  organized  at  Camp  Mangum  near 
Raleigh.  Ordered  to  Virginia,  this  regiment  bore  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg,  calling  forth 
from  the  division  commander  especial  mention  of  its  gallant 
colonel  and  staff  for  distinguished  bravery  and  coolness  un- 
der fire.  During  that  day  the  regiment  occupied  several  posi- 
tions of  importance  and  great  danger,  and  on  every  occasion, 
it  exhibited  that  steadiness  and  coolness  which  characterized 
its  record.  In  October  at  Bristow  Station  General  Cooke  fell, 
and  the  command  of  the  brigade  devolved  on  Colonel  Hall.  An 
unequal  struggle  was  waged,  and  disaster  was  averted  only  by 
Colonel  Hall's  skillful  management  of  his  command.  Late 
in  1863  Colonel  Hall  resigned  to  accept  a  civil  office  in 
North   Carolina,   and   the  regiment  lost   its   brilliant   com- 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  265 

mander,  a  brave  man,  a  good  disciplinarian,  a  most  valuable 
and  efficient  officer.  It  v\^as  with  much  regret  that  his  regi- 
ment bade  him  farewell. 

Alexander  Duncan  Moore,  who  at  first  commanded  a  bat- 
tery of  light  artillery  from  Wilmington,  was  made  colonel 
of  the  Sixty-sixth  Regiment,  organized  in  August,  1863. 
Colonel  Moore  had  been  at  West  Point  Military  Academy 
and  was  a  brilliant  young  officer  of  remarkable  appearance 
and  soldierly  bearing.  The  Sixty-sixth  was  ordered  to  Vir- 
ginia in  May,  1864,  where  in  "its  first  baptism  of  fire  on  the 
15th  of  May,  its  gallantry  was  conspicuous,  and  favorably 
commented  upon  by  commanding  officers."  A  series  of  bat- 
tles followed,  and  on  the  3d  of  June,  1864,  Colonel  Moore 
was  mortally  wounded,  a  ball  striking  him  in  the  neck.  The 
memory  of  his  heroic  courage  was  ever  after  present  with 
the  officers  and  men  of  his  command,  and  comments  were 
made  upon  his  gallantry  and  the  soldierly  qualities  he  always 
exhibited. 

In  the  attack  on  Petersburg  Colonel  Moore  was  told  that 
his  regiment  was  advancing  too  rapidly  ahead  of  the  right 
and  left,  and  he  was  directed  to  preserve  the  alignment.  On 
receiving  this  order  Colonel  Moore  seized  his  colors,  planted 
the  staff  upon  the  ground  and  lifted  his  sword  in  the  air  above 
his  head,  the  well  known  signal;  his  command  halted  and 
dressed  on  the  colors,  until  the  regiments  on  the  right  and 
left  came  upon  the  same  line — then  with  a  yell,  all  three 
sprang  forward  and  rushed  upon  the  enemy.  The  movement 
was  successful  and  the  foe  retreated. 

George  Tait,  of  Bladen  County,  who  was  elected  major  of 
the  Eighth  Regiment  in  July,  1861,  resigned  his  commission, 
and  was,  with  Company  K,  of  the  Fortieth  Regiment,  sta- 
tioned at  a  battery  near  Federal  Point  Lighthouse.  On  the 
1st  of  December,  1863,  when  the  Fortieth  Regiment  was  or- 
ganized as  Third  Artillery,  Captain  Tait  was  appointed  lieu- 
tenant colonel.  In  January,  1865,  he  resigned  this  commis- 
sion to  take  one  as  colonel  of  the  Sixty-ninth  North  Carolina 
Regiment.     Colonel  Tait  was  a  fine  disciplinarian.     He  re- 


266  GAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

mained  detached  from  the  Fortieth  Regiment  after  it  had 
formed  in  order  to  train,  drill,  and  discipline  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  Thirty-sixth ;  and  then  he  drilled  and  disciplined 
the  Fortieth,  which  was  afterwards  pronounced  by  the  In- 
spector General,  Colonel  Tansill,  "the  best  drilled  regiment 
of  Confederate  soldiers"  that  he  had  ever  seen. 

Colonel  Tait  was  a  good  and  brave  officer,  and  in  his  rank 
had  no  superior. 

The  Thirty-sixth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  Second  Artil- 
lery, was  organized  at  Fort  Caswell  under  Brig.  Gen.  S.  G. 
French,  commanding  the  District  of  the  Cape  Fear.  Col. 
Wm.  Lamb  was  colonel  and  James  M.  Stevenson,  of  Wilming- 
ton, major.  Major  Stevenson,  in  November,  1864,  was  or- 
dered with  a  part  of  his  battalion  to  Georgia  to  join  the  Con- 
federate forces  opposing  Sherman's  advance  to  Savannah. 
About  fourteen  miles  from  that  place,  at  Harrison's  Old  Field, 
with  parts  of  four  battalions  he  met  and  contested  the  ad- 
vance of  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  fighting  so  valiantly  that 
his  whole  command  came  near  being  captured.  He,  however, 
made  his  escape  with  all  his  men,  except  thirteen  killed.  He 
also  brought  off  all  wounded,  his  artillery  and  wagons;  and 
that  same  night  he  marched  into  Savannah  and  reported  to 
General  Hardee,  by  whom  he  was  warmly  received  and  highly 
complimented.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Fort  Fisher,  was 
there  when  Fort  Fisher  fell,  and  was  badly  wounded,  cap- 
tured, and  taken  to  Governors  Island,  where  he  died  of  his 
wounds  in  prison. 

Maj.  James  Dillard  Radcliffe,  then  connected  with  the 
Engineer  Department  of  the  Cape  Fear  defenses,  was  elected 
colonel  of  the  Eighth  Regiment  of  Volunteers,  on  its  first 
organization  in  1861.  Colonel  Radcliffe,  who  had  been  prin- 
cipal of  a  military  school  in  Wilmington  for  several  years 
previous  to  the  war,  was  an  excellent  drillmaster  and  disci- 
plinarian, and  soon  had  the  regiment  well  drilled.  On  the  re- 
organization in  1862,  the  regiment  then  being  the  Eighteenth 
State  Troops,  he  was  not  reelected,  but  he  became  colonel 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  267 

of  the  Sixty-first  Regiment,  when  it  was  organized  in  August, 
1863. 

Alfred  M.  Waddell,  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Forty-first 
Eegiment  (Third  Cavalry)  was  a  scion  of  one  of  the  old  and 
venerated  families  of  the  Cape  Fear.  He  was  commissioned 
lieutenant  colonel  in  August,  1863,  having  previously  served 
as  adjutant.  His  regiment  was  scattered  over  an  extended 
field  of  operations,  and  operated  as  detached  cavalry,  or 
partisan  rangers.  In  August,  1864,  Colonel  Waddell  re- 
signed. After  the  war  he  used  his  brilliant  talent  and  elo- 
quence, always  as  long  as  he  lived,  in  behalf  of  his  comrades 
and  his  fellow  citizens  of  the  Cape  Fear  section. 

In  August,  1863,  Eoger  Moore,  a  descendant  of  another 
Eoger  Moore  who  lived  in  princely  style  in  Colonial  times, 
and  was  known  on  the  Cape  Fear  as  "King"  Roger,  was 
appointed  major  of  the  Third  Cavalry.  He  was  a  brave  sol- 
dier, maintaining  the  honor  of  his  ancestors  upon  the  field. 
In  August,  1864,  when  Colonel  Waddell  resigned.  Major 
Moore  became  commanding  officer  of  the  regiment,  which  was 
looked  upon  as  a  bulwark  of  protection  for  the  railroad  from 
Weldon  to  Wilmington,  and  of  all  that  portion  of  thirty  coun- 
ties east  of  it  which  was  not  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Pro- 
tecting the  villages  and  settlements  from  forays,  guarding  the 
cross-roads  and  bridges  and  checking  the  approach  of  the 
enemy  whenever  he  advanced  beyond  his  gunboats,  this  regi- 
ment daily  and  hourly  did  service  of  vital  importance.  In 
1864  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Virginia  and  took  part  in 
the  brilliant  attack  on  Reams  Station,  August  25,  1864, 
following  which  General  Lee  wrote  to  Governor  Vance,  "If 
those  men  who  remain  in  North  Carolina  have  the  spirit  of 
those  sent  to  the  field,  as  I  doubt  not  they  have,  her  defense 
may  be  securely  entrusted  to  their  hands." 

John  Grange  Ashe  entered  the  Confederate  service  in 
April,  1861,  as  lieutenant  under  Gen.  Braxton  Bragg,  at 
Pensacola.  He  was  appointed  acting  adjutant  general  to 
Gen.  Robert  Ransom  in  June,  1862,  and  later  in  the  same 
year  was  made  major  of  sharpshooters.     He  also  partici- 


268  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

pated  in  the  Eed  River  campaign  with  Gen.  Dick  Taylor, 
in  1864.    He  died  in  Texas  in  1867. 

William  S.  Ashe  was  appointed  major  quartermaster 
July  17,  1861,  and  colonel  quartermaster,  September  25, 
1861.  He  had  in  charge  all  Confederate  transportation  east 
of  the  Mississippi  Eiver.  Desiring  more  active  service,  in 
the  summer  of  1862  he  was  authorized  by  President  Davis  to 
raise  a  legion  of  artillery,  cavalry,  and  infantry,  but  before 
he  had  been  able  to  do  so,  he  was  killed  in  a  railroad  accident 
in  September,  1862. 

Dr.  Alexander  Ashe  served  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the 
Confederate  ^avj.    He  died  in  Texas,  1866. 

Samuel  A.  Ashe  was  appointed  lieutenant  of  artillery  on 
April  17,  1861,  by  Major  Whiting,  who  had  assumed  com- 
mand of  the  Cape  Fear  defenses,  and  in  May  was  commis- 
sioned by  the  State.  Although  all  North  Carolina  staff  ap- 
pointments ceased  on  the  transfer  of  our  troops  to  the  Con- 
federacy on  August  20,  1861,  he  and  Capt.  John  C.  Win- 
der continued  at  their  work  until  November,  when  he  was 
relieved.  Captain  Ashe  then  joined,  as  a  volunteer,  Company 
I,  Eighth  Eegiment,  at  the  front  at  Coosawhatchie,  S.  C. ;  and 
later  enlisted  regularly  as  a  private  in  that  company.  But  in 
December,  the  President  appointed  him  in  the  Regular  Army, 
and  in  March,  1862,  the  commission  came  to  him  through 
Gen.  R.  E.  Lee,  then  commanding  at  the  South.  He  was  as- 
signed to  duty  at  the  Charleston  arsenal,  where  he  remained 
until  the  middle  of  July,  when  he  was  appointed  acting  adju- 
tant general  to  General  Pender,  and  joined  Pender's  brigade 
in  Virgina.  The  night  following  the  battle  of  Second  Manas- 
sas, he  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands  and  was  confined  in  the  Old 
Capitol  Prison  until  October,  when  he  was  exchanged.  In 
November  he  was  assigned  to  duty  with  General  Clingman's 
brigade,  and  in  July,  1863,  became  ordnance  officer  of  Battery 
Wagner,  and  continued  so  until  the  fall  of  that  fort  in  Sep- 
tember, when  he  was  ordered  to  the  arsenal  at  Fayetteville, 
where  he  served  as  assistant  to  the  commanding  officer  until 
the  end  of  the  war.     On  the  day  General  Johnston  surren- 


THE  ^YAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  269 

dered,  Captain  Ashe's  chief,  General  Gorgas,  at  Charlotte, 
in  the  most  appreciative  terms  gave  him  orders  to  join  him 
across  the  Mississippi,  but  later  told  him  he  could  go  home, 
and  govern  himself  according  to  circumstances. 

At  the  election  in  1870,  he  was  elected  a  representative 
from  New  Hanover  and  became  a  very  active  member  of  the 
legislature,  Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee,  and  leading 
member  of  the  Judiciary  and  other  committees.  In  1874  he 
edited  at  Raleigh  a  daily  paper,  the  Evening  Crescent,  which 
probably  did  more  than  any  other  one  instrumentality  in 
bringing  about  the  redemption  of  the  State,  the  Democratic 
majority  that  year  being  12,000.  In  1879  he  purchased  the 
Observer,  and  in  1881  he  consolidated  the  News  with  it, 
founding  the  News  and  Observer,  of  which  he  was  editor  un- 
til 1894.  In  1903  he  became  editor  of  a  Biographical  His- 
tory  of  North  Carolina,  of  which  seven  volumes  have  been 
printed,  and  in  1908,  his  History  of  North  Carolina  (1584- 
1783)  was  published. 

Col.  John  Wilder  Atkinson  entered  the  service  of  the 
Confederate  States  in  1861  as  captain  of  a  volunteer  company 
which  was  assigned  as  Company  A,  to  the  Fifteenth  Virginia 
Infantry.  With  this  regiment  he  took  part  in  the  action  at 
Big  Bethel  in  1861,  and  at  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines  served 
on  the  staff  of  General  McLaws,  who  took  occasion  to  men- 
tion his  services  in  his  official  report.  He  was  then  promoted 
to  be  major  and  transferred  to  the  Nineteenth  Virginia  Regi- 
ment of  Artillery,  To  this  the  Tenth  Virginia  was  added 
in  1863,  and  he  was  promoted  to  colonel  of  the  consolidated 
command.  He  took  part  in  the  Seven  Days'  campaign  before 
Richmond,  and  subsequently  remained  on  duty  in  the  Rich- 
mond defenses,  where  he  was,  toward  the  last,  in  frequent 
and  arduous  service  combating  the  Federal  raids  and  defend- 
ing the  city  against  regular  siege.  He  took  a  prominent  part 
in  the  defeat  of  the  raider  Dahlgren,  and  buried  the  body  of 
that  evil-minded  man.  For  some  time  he  was  in  command 
of  a  part  of  the  defenses  about  the  Confederate  capital.  His 
last  battle  was  at  Sailors  Creek,  where  he  was  captured. 


270  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Thence  lie  was  taken  to  Johnsons  Island,  but  was  soon  re- 
leased without  taking  the  oath,  through  the  influence  of  his 
kinsman,  Gen.  Winfield  Scott.  In  1866,  Colonel  Atkin- 
son made  his  home  in  Wilmington,  where  he  recently  died, 
leaving  the  heritage  of  an  honored  name. 

Capt.  Edward  H.  Armstrong,  of  Xew  Hanover.  In  1862 
this  brilliant  student  of  the  University  at  Chapel  Hill 
was  orderly  sergeant  of  Company  G,  Third  Regiment,  IN'orth 
Carolina  Troops.  Very  soon  afterwards  he  was  promoted  to 
be  second  lieutenant  of  that  company,  and  went  through  the 
Seven  Days'  fighting  at  Richmond,  and  with  his  regiment 
he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg  with  great  credit 
and  was  made  captain  of  the  company,  the  captain,  E.  H. 
Rhodes,  and  Lieut.  W.  H.  Quince,  having  been  killed  in 
that  engagement.  His  subsequent  career  was  conspicuous  at 
Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  and  Mine  Run, 
and  he  met  a  soldier's  death  at  the  Horse  Shoe  at  Spottsyl- 
vania  Courthouse,  lamented  by  his  comrades  for  his  modest, 
beautiful  character  and  for  his  soldierly  qualities.  It  was 
said  of  him  that  he  was  fitted  to  command  a  division.  Dur- 
ing the  Gettysburg  campaign,  his  shoes  having  worn  out,  he 
inarched  barefooted. 

Louis  S.  Belden  ran  away  as  a  youth  and  enlisted  at  the 
beginning  of  the  war  in  Moore's  battery  Light  Artillery, 
Tenth  Regiment  jSTorth  Carolina  Troops,  which  was,  after 
Moore's  promotion  to  be  colonel  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Regiment, 
commanded  by  Capt.  John  Miller.  Sergeant  Belden  remained 
with  the  battery  until  the  end  of  the  war,  rendering  at  all 
times  excellent  service.  On  his  return  home  destitute,  but  de- 
termined to  make  his  way,  he  appeared  in  a  suit  of  clothes 
which  his  sister  had  made  of  bedticking,  the  only  available 
material,  and  he  was  not  long  in  obtaining  honorable  employ- 
ment which  led  to  comparative  independence.  He  still  re- 
tains, in  his  advanced  years  and  in  impaired  health,  the  es- 
teem and  confidence  of  the  community. 

Charles  P.  Bolles  had  been  employed  on  the  Coast  Survey 
by  the  United  States  Government  for  many  years  previous 


THE  WAB.  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  271 

to  the  war,  and  was  a  man  of  marked  ability.  In  April, 
1861,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  as  an  engineer,  and  constructed 
the  first  battery  at  Confederate  Point,  called  in  compliment 
to  him,  "Battery  Bolles."  For  a  year  or  more  he  was  em- 
ployed with  the  engineers,  and  then  transferred  to  the  Fay- 
etteville  Arsenal.  His  professional  skill  was  exemplified  in 
the  preparation  of  bolts  for  Whitworth  guns.  An  English 
firm  presented  a  battery  of  Whitworth  guns  to  the  Confeder- 
ate Government  through  Colonel  Lamb  at  Fort  Fisher,  by 
whom  they  were  effectively  used  at  long  range  against  the 
blockaders  and  for  the  protection  of  the  blockade  runners. 
The  guns  were  unfortunately  received  without  ammunition 
or  projectiles,  and  were  worthless  until  Captain  Bolles  de- 
vised at  the  Fayetteville  armory  the  peculiar  bolts  which 
were  used  as  projectiles  and  for  which  he  had  no  pattern.  At 
the  arsenal,  he  was  captain  of  Company  A,  Sixth  Battalion, 
Armory  Guards. 

J.  H,  Boatwright  was  one  of  the  Seed  Corn  cadets,  of 
Charleston,  S.  C,  when  the  order  was  issued  by  the  hard- 
pressed  Confederacy  that  boys  under  the  military  age  would 
be  permitted  to  go  to  the  front  and  do  a  man's  work.  He 
was  offered  a  lieutenancy  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  but  his 
father  declared  that  he  was  too  young  to  command,  and  so  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  B,  Citadel  Guards.  He 
saw  service  at  Coosawhatchie,  and  at  "Tulafinny,"  and  in 
one  of  the  engagements  he  was  struck  by  a  musket  ball.  His 
lieutenant,  A.  Coffin,  hearing  the  bullet  strike  him,  assisted 
in  examining  the  wound,  which  was  found  to  be  the  mutila- 
tion of  a  small  Testament  in  young  Boatwright's  breast- 
pocket.   The  interesting  bullet  is  still  preserved  by  his  family. 

A  year  or  so  afterwards  he  was  sent  home  on  sick  leave, 
and  he  found  Columbia  sacked  and  burned,  but  his  mother 
and  sister  safe.  Governor  McGraw  sent  for  him  and,  inform- 
ing him  that  his  secretary  had  taken  fright  and  departed, 
offered  young  Boatvn-ight  the  position,  which  he  promptly 
accepted.  Later,  when  the  Governor  was  arrested  by  the 
Federals,  his  secretary  was  not  regarded  as  of  sufficient  im- 


272  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

portance  to  he  placed  under  guard.  This  resulted  in  his 
taking  charge  of  all  the  State  archives,  which  he  placed  in 
an  old  vault,  and  he  kept  them  in  careful  custody  until  after 
the  war,  when  he  delivered  them  to  the  first  legislature. 

Gabriel  J.  Bonej,  of  Wilmington,  enlisted  in  Company  H 
of  the  Fortieth  Regiment  in  March,  1864,  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen, and  he  was  on  duty  until  the  war  was  practically  ended, 
completing  his  service  in  a  northern  prison.  He  was  in  the 
fight  with  the  Federal  gunboats  at  Fort  Anderson,  and  at 
Town  Creek,  having  been  promoted  to  be  corporal,  was  in 
command  of  twenty  men  on  the  line.  He  was  also  at  Benton- 
ville,  where  the  North  Carolina  soldiers  made  their  last  dem- 
onstration of  heroic  valor.  Being  captured  by  the  enemy, 
he  was  transported  to  Point  Lookout,  Md.,  and  confined  until 
June  4,  1865. 

Lieut.  Alexander  Davidson  Brown,  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, earnestly  supported  the  cause  of  the  State  during  the 
great  war,  and  for  four  years  wore  the  Confederate  gray. 
Although  he  came  to  Wilmington  as  late  as  1860,  in  April, 
1861,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  artillery  company  of 
Capt.  James  D.  Cumming,  known  as  Battery  C,  of  the  Thir- 
teenth Battalion.  In  this  gallant  command  he  was  succes- 
sively promoted  to  corporal  and  lieutenant.  During  his 
military  career  he  participated  in  the  fighting  at  New  Bern 
and  on  the  Petersburg  lines  in  numerous  engagements,  and 
took  part  in  the  desperate  encounters  on  the  retreat  from 
Petersburg,  and  at  Appomattox  Courthouse  previous  to  the 
surrender. 

Thomas  O.  Bunting  enlisted  in  the  Twentieth  North  Caro- 
lina Infantry  in  May,  1861,  though  only  about  sixteen  years 
of  age,  but  in  July  following  withdrew  and  entered  the  Uni- 
versity of  North  Carolina,  where  he  studied  one  year.  Ee- 
turning  to  the  Confederate  service  he  became  a  private  in 
Company  C,  of  the  Sixty-third  Regiment,  or  Fifth  Cavalry, 
and  shared  the  subsequent  gallant  career  of  this  command, 
taking  part  in  the  engagements  at  White  HaU  and  Goldsboro 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  273 

in  1862,  and  then,  in  Virginia,  under  the  leadership  of  Baker, 
Gordon,  Barringer,  Hampton,  and  Stuart,  meeting  the  enemy 
on  many  a  field.  On  April  3,  1865,  at  Namozine  church  he 
was  captured  by  the  Federals,  and  was  confined  at  Point 
Lookout  until  June  28th.  Throughout  his  gallant  career  he 
was  once  seriously  wounded,  receiving  a  shot  through  the 
ankle  on  the  Ground  Squirrel  Road  near  Petersburg,  which 
disabled  him  for  three  months. 

Samuel  E.  Bunting  was  captain  of  Company  I,  Tenth 
Regiment  State  Troops,  Light  Artillery,  which  was  organized 
at  Wilmington  in  May,  1861.  This  company  served  at  first 
as  coast  guard  at  Wrightsville  and  Masonboro  Sounds,  and  in 
March,  1862,  moved  to  Kinston  and  saw  active  service  in  that 
vicinity,  then  returned  to  Fort  Fisher.  After  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher  and  the  evacuation  of  Wilmington,  the  regiment  joined 
Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston  and  fought  and  surrendered  with 
him. 

Bunting's  Battery  was  engaged  for  three  days  at  Spring 
Bank,  and  lost  nineteen  men  killed  and  wounded. 

James  G.  Burr  was  colonel  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  Home 
Guards,  but  did  not  see  actual  service  in  the  field. 

Thomas  Jefferson  Capps  was  a  private  in  Company  E, 
Third  ISTorth  Carolina  Infantry,  and  was  in  charge  of  the 
field  ambulances  at  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  when  a 
captain  ordered  him  to  go  to  the  front,  which  he  refused  to 
do  because  he  was  under  Dr.  McRee's  orders  and  could  not 
leave  his  post.  Finally  the  officer  reluctantly  told  him  that 
Stonewall  Jackson  was  wounded  and  required  immediate  at- 
tention, but  he  must  act  with  great  secrecy.  Mr.  Capps  then 
drove  his  ambulance  down  the  road  under  heavy  fire,  lifted 
the  General  into  his  ambulance  and  brought  him  from  the 
field.  He  was  kept  under  guard  all  night  in  order  to  prevent 
the  possibility  of  conveying  the  distressing  news,  and  thereby 
demoralizing  the  troops. 

Robert  E.  Calder  was  elected  lieutenant  of  Company  B 
(of  Wilson  County),  which  was  part  of  the  Second  Regiment. 


274  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Wten  Colonel  Cantwell  was  ordered  to  have  Fort  Caswell 
evacuated  in  January,  1861,  he  was  accompanied  bv  R.  E. 
Calder,  acting  adjutant,  and  Wm.  Calder,  acting  quarter- 
master. 

Lieut.  William  Calder  was  born  in  Wilmington,  May  5, 
1844.  In  1859  he  entered  the  military  academy  at  Hills- 
boro  and  left  there  in  May,  1861,  having  been  appointed  drill- 
master  by  Governor  Ellis,  and  assigned  to  the  camp  of  in- 
struction at  Raleigh.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  first  ten 
regiments  of  State  Troops  he  was  commissioned  a  second  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Third  Regiment.  He  served  as  drillmaster  at 
Garysburg  about  four  months,  and  was  then  transferred  to 
the  Second  Regiment  of  Infantry  as  second  lieutenant  of 
Company  K.  With  this  command  he  participated  in  the 
Seven  Days'  campaign  about  Richmond ;  and  at  Malvern  Hill 
he  was  wounded  in  the  left  thigh,  causing  a  disability  that 
continued  until  after  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg.  He  was  in 
battle  at  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville,  and  in  most  of 
the  engagements  of  Jackson's  and  Ewell's  corps ;  and  during 
the  three  days'  fighting  at  Gettysburg  he  was  in  command  of 
the  sharpshooters  of  Ramseur's  brigade.  On  the  return  to 
Orange  Courthouse  he  was  appointed  adjutant  of  the  First 
]^orth  Carolina  Battalion,  heavy  artillery,  and  subsequently 
was  on  duty  with  this  command  at  Fort  Caswell,  until  that 
post  was  evacuated.  He  was  in  the  battles  at  Fort  Anderson, 
Town  Creek,  and  Kinston,  and  at  the  battle  of  Bentonville  he 
served  as  acting  assistant  adjutant  general  on  the  staff  of 
Colonel  !N"ethercutt,  commanding  the  brigade  of  Junior  Re- 
serves. From  that  time  until  the  end  of  hostilities  he  was 
with  his  artillery  battalion  in  outpost  duty  on  the  upper 
Cape  Fear  River. 

James  Carmichael,  rector  of  St.  John's  Episcopal  Church, 
Wilmington,  was  devoted  to  the  Confederate  cause  during  the 
great  struggle.  He  was  compelled  to  retire  from  his  studies 
at  the  Alexandria  Theological  Seminary  by  the  advance  of 
the  invading  armies,  in  1861.     In  May  of  that  year  he  was 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  275 

commissioned  chaplain  of  the  Thirtieth  Virginia  Infantry, 
and  he  was  with  this  command  in  the  field  of  duty  until  the 
spring  of  1862,  when  he  was  disabled  by  lung  trouble  and 
was  sent  on  furlough  to  Greensboro,  ]^.  C.  There  he  re- 
mained, unfit  for  duty,  until  ISTovember  following,  when,  at 
the  request  of  Dr.  James  L.  Cabell,  post  surgeon  at  Danville, 
he  was  assigned  as  post  chaplain  at  the  latter  place.  In  this 
capacity  he  served  until  July  3,  1865. 

Anthony  D.  Cazaux,  a  well  known  citizen  of  Wilmington, 
was  appointed  captain  and  assistant  quartermaster  of  the 
Eighteenth  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops.  The  Eigh- 
teenth Regiment  was  part  of  the  Branch-Lane  Brigade, 
and  Captain  Cazaux  acted  as  one  of  its  quartermasters. 
This  brigade  took  part  in  active  service  in  Virginia  through- 
out the  war  and  fought  with  such  signal  bravery  that  it  at- 
tracted the  special  attention  of  General  Lee,  and  a  ISTorthern 
military  historian  said  of  it,  in  serio-comic  vein,  "If  Lane's 
brigade  had  remained  at  home  many  New  England  regiments 
would  have  been  happier.  It  is  admitted  here  that  Lane's 
boys  were  a  bad,  quarrelsome  set  of  fellows  and  too  fond  of 
a  fight  altogether." 

Columbus  L.  Chestnutt  was  appointed  assistant  quarter- 
master of  the  Thirteenth  Battalion,  which  was  organized 
December  1,  1863. 

John  Cowan  joined  the  Wilmington  Rifle  Guards,  (after- 
wards Company  I,  Eighteenth  Regiment)  and  took  part  in 
the  original  capture  of  Fort  Caswell  by  order  of  Governor 
Ellis.  After  a  few  months  he  was  promoted  to  lieutenant  of 
Company  D,  Third  North  Carolina  Regiment  of  Infantry. 

He  was  present  at  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors ville,  and 
various  other  battles,  and  served  through  the  Gettysburg  cam- 
paign. Once,  in  the  absence  of  Captain  Van  Bokkelen,  he 
was  left  with  his  company  to  hold  a  line  which  had  been 
captured  the  evening  before,  and  he  defended  his  position 
with  great  tenacity  and  held  it  until  he  was  ordered  out.  At 
Spottsylvania  he  was  captured,  along  with  the  entire  brigade, 
19 


276  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

and  sent  to  Fort  Delaware.  Subsequently  he  was  placed 
under  fire  at  Morris  Island,  after  which  he  was  returned  to 
Fort  Delaware,  where  he  remained  until  the  end  of  the  war. 
During  all  his  life  Captain  Cowan  was  exceedingly  kind 
to  the  sailors  of  this  port.  He  became  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Seamen's  Friend  Society,  and  never  failed  to  be  present 
at  the  Bethel  meeting  on  Sunday  afternoons. 

The  following  tribute  by  a  fellow  citizen,  on  the  occasion 
of  a  memorial  meeting  after  his  death,  illustrates  the  char- 
acter of  this  highly  esteemed  Cape  Fear  gentleman : 

"We  are  called  today  to  add  the  honored  name  of  John 
Cowan  to  the  long  roll  of  the  majority,  and  to  pay  our  tribute 
of  respect  to  the  memory  of  one  of  the  few  members  of  our 
society  who  was  faithful  unto  death. 

"For  years  he  has  sat  with  us  here  during  our  Sabbath 
service,  inspiring  us  by  his  devout  attention  and  unswerving 
loyalty  with  more  zeal  in  our  sacred  cause  and  uniting  our 
handful  of  supporters  in  a  closer  bond  of  union  and  sympathy 
with  the  thousands  of  seafaring  men,  who,  ^like  ships  that 
pass  in  the  night  and  speak  each  other  in  passing,'  have  heard 
the  friendly  warning  voice  of  our  preacher  and  vanished 
from  our  sight.  His  beaming  face,  full  of  sympathetic  cour- 
tesy, will  be  sadly  missed  in  our  assemblies. 

"Like  the  great  leader  in  the  wilderness,  whose  presence 
reflected  the  glory  of  his  God,  he  wist  not  that  his  face  so 
shone.  That  face  so  deeply  lined  of  late  by  weariness  and 
pain  is,  I  believe,  radiant  now  in  the  presence  of  Him  with 
whom  there  is  fullness  of  joy.  Buffeted  by  the  storms  of  life, 
and  disabled  by  disease  and  suffering,  this  sailors'  friend  has 
met  his  great  Pilot  and  cast  his  anchor  within  the  haven  of 
eternal  rest. 

"His  eminent  public  service  as  a  soldier  of  the  Confeder- 
acy is  a  part  of  its  history.  His  native  modesty  forbade  the 
mention  by  him  of  his  heroic  deeds,  but  who  of  you  will  for- 
get the  valor  of  that  thin  line  of  twenty-five  muskets,  the 
remnant  of  his  shattered  but  intrepid  command,  which  held 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  277 

an  overwhelming  force  in  check  at  Gettysburg?  When  he 
surrendered  his  sword  at  'the  bloody  angle'  he  retained  that 
invisible  armor  for  the  good  fight  of  faith  from  which  he  has 
come  off  more  than  conqueror  through  Him  that  loved  him 
and  gave  Himself  for  him. 

"I  am  requested  by  our  late  chaplain,  the  Eev.  Dr.  James 
Carmichael,  who  could  not  be  present  with  us  today,  to  add 
his  loving  testimony  to  the  work  and  faith  of  our  dead  com- 
rade, who  for  many  years  encouraged  and  sustained  him  as 
a  co-laborer  at  the  Bethel  service.  He  mourns  with  us  the 
loss  of  one  of  the  truest  friends  and  supporters  whom  this 
Society  has  ever  known." 

Wm.  A.  Gumming  joined  the  famous  Third  Regiment,  the 
record  of  which  has  been  given  in  several  sketches,  and,  about 
a  year  later,  after  a  fatiguing  day's  march,  he  was  exposed 
all  night  to  a  soaking  rain,  which  brought  on  an  attack  of 
rheumatism.  He  was  sent  to  the  hospital  and,  deriving  no 
benefit,  was  later  sent  home  so  emaciated  that  his  father  did 
not  at  first  recognize  him.  Later,  he  returned  to  the  Army, 
but  he  never  fully  recovered  his  health,  and  he  was  given  a 
commission  in  the  Commissary  Department,  in  which  he  re- 
mained during  the  war.  He  never  recovered  from  the  first 
exposure  in  the  field  and  died  after  the  war  from  rheuma- 
tism, which  attacked  his  heart.  He  had  many  warm  friends 
in  the  Third  North  Carolina  Infantry  and  in  civil  life,  for 
he  was  a  kindly,  unselfish.  Christian  gentleman,  of  fine  pres- 
ence and  old-time  urbanity. 

Preston  Cumming,  a  survivor  of  the  Cape  Fear  Artillery, 
enlisted  in  October,  1861,  as  a  private  in  the  artillery  com- 
pany commanded  by  his  brother,  James  D.  Cumming,  and 
known  as  Cumming's  battery,  or  Cape  Fear  Artillery. 
During  his  service  he  was  promoted  to  sergeant,  participated 
in  the  fighting  on  the  Petersburg  lines  several  months,  and 
was  in  the  battles  of  Washington,  Kinston,  and  Bentonville, 
and  finally  surrendered  with  Johnston  at  Greensboro. 

James  D.  Cumming  was  second  lieutenant  of  one  of  the 


278  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

companies  that  took  possession  of  Fort  Johnston  and  Fort 
Caswell  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  The  Company  was  as- 
signed soon  after  to  the  defense  of  Confederate  Point,  and  in 
April,  1862,  was  reorganized,  with  Lieutenant  Gumming  as 
captain.  A  battery  of  field  artillery  was  provided  for  it,  and 
it  bore  the  name  of  Cumming's  battery.  It  became  part  of 
the  Thirteenth  Battalion  in  December,  1863.  In  May,  1864, 
a  section  of  it  was  ordered  to  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  assigned  to 
Moseley's  battalion  of  artillery.  The  battery,  therefore,  gave 
active  service  to  the  Confederacy  both  in  Virginia  and  in  east- 
ern North  Carolina. 

Roger  Cutlar,  a  brother  of  DuBrutz  Cutlar,  served  through- 
out the  war  in  Moore's  battery.  After  the  war  he  moved  to 
California.    He  was  a  courageous  and  gallant  soldier. 

Champ  T.  E".  Davis:  Among  the  officers  of  Company  G, 
Sixteenth  Regiment,  on  its  organization  June  IT,  1861,  ap- 
pears the  name  of  Capt.  C.  T.  jN".  Davis,  of  Rutherford 
County.  The  Sixteenth  was  ordered  to  Virginia  soon  after 
its  mobilization,  proceeded  to  Valley  Mountain,  and  assisted 
in  holding  the  gap  against  the  Federals  under  General  Rose- 
crans.  Afterwards  it  was  attached  to  Hampton's  legion 
around  Fredericksburg  and  Yorktown,  where  it  was  reorgan- 
ized, and  Captain  Davis  elected  its  colonel.  At  the  battle  of 
Seven  Pines  the  regiment  was  exposed  to  a  galling  fire  from 
several  Federal  batteries  and  lost  some  of  its  bravest  and  best 
officers  and  men,  among  whom  was  the  gallant  Colonel  Davis. 

Graham  Daves  was  appointed  private  secretary  to  Gov- 
ernor Ellis  on  January  1,  1859,  and  held  that  position  until 
the  outbreak  of  the  War  between  the  States.  He  then  joined 
the  Army  as  first  lieutenant  of  the  Twelfth  Volunteers,  Col. 
J.  Johnston  PettigTew,  afterward  known  as  the  Twenty- 
second  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops,  of  which  he  was 
appointed  adjutant,  July  24,  1861.  With  this  regiment  he 
served  until  April,  1862,  being  on  duty  at  different  times  at 
Raleigh,  Richmond,  and  Brooke  Station,  Va.,  but  most  of 
the  time  at  Evansport,  now  called  Quantico,  where  the  regi- 


THE  ^VAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  279 

ment  was  employed  in  erecting  batteries,  which  some  of  the 
companies  occupied  and  served.  These  were  the  batteries 
that  so  long  blockaded  the  Potomac  Kiver  at  that  point. 
Lieutenant  Daves  having  resigned  his  commission  on  Novem- 
ber 16,  1863,  was  enrolled  as  a  private  and  assigned  to  duty 
in  the  conscript  office,  Ealeigh,  where  he  remained  until  July, 
1864.  He  served  in  various  other  positions  until  the  surren- 
der of  General  Johnston's  army  to  General  Sherman  near 
Greensboro. 

Junius  Davis,  born  June  17,  1845,  was  a  son  of  George 
Davis  and  his  first  wife,  Mary  Polk.  He  was  in  school  at 
Bingham's  Institute  in  Alamance  County  when  North  Caro- 
lina decided  to  cast  her  lot  with  the  Confederate  States,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1863,  being  nearly  eighteen  years  of  age,  he 
left  his  books  to  enter  the  military  service.  He  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Battery  C,  Third  Battalion,  North  Carolina  Ar- 
tillery, Capt.  J.  G.  Moore,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  For  nearly  a  year  he  was  about  Petersburg,  and  was 
in  the  battles  of  Drewry's  Bluff  and  Bermuda  Hundred,  and 
of  Fort  Harrison  lines.  In  the  last  day's  fight  at  Petersburg 
he  was  slightly  wounded,  but  continued  on  duty  during  the 
retreat.  The  battery  being  at  first  a  part  of  the  rear  guard 
was  almost  constantly  engaged  and  was  roughly  handled ;  but 
later  it  became  a  part  of  the  van,  and  at  the  end,  Corporal 
Davis  and  a  small  squad  escaped  without  surrendering.  In 
civil  life,  Mr.  Davis  has  well  worn  the  mantle  of  his  dis- 
tinguished father. 

Horatio  Davis,  a  half-brother  of  Mr.  Geo.  Davis,  served  in 
the  Confederate  Army  and  later  became  a  judge  in  Virginia, 
and  finally  moved  to  Florida.  He  was  a  brave  and  fearless 
soldier. 

Armand  L.  DeEosset  was  elected  captain  of  Company  B 
at  the  formation  of  the  Sixth  Battalion,  called  the  Armory 
Guards,  which  was  stationed  at  the  Fayetteville  Arsenal  and 
Armory  during  the  War  between  the  States. 

Moses  John  DeRosset  was  on  duty  as  surgeon  in  the  hos- 


280  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

pitals  at  Richmond  in  1861,  and  became  surgeon  of  the  Fiftj- 
sixth  Eegiment  on  its  organization  in  the  summer  of  1862. 
Dr.  DeRosset  stood  high  in  his  profession,  having  taken  a 
course  in  Europe  and  being  besides  an  accomplished  French 
and  German  scholar. 

Edward  B.  Dudley  was  captain  of  Company  D,  Anderson 
Artillery,  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Regiment.  This  regiment  was 
stationed  at  various  points  of  defense  along  the  Cape  Fear. 
On  November  22,  1864,  Captain  Dudley  was  sent  with  his 
company  and  others  under  Maj.  James  M.  Stevenson  to 
Georgia  to  join  the  Confederate  forces  opposing  Sherman's 
advance  to  Savannah.  Later  he  returned  to  Fort  Fisher  and 
performed  his  part  in  the  epic  defense. 

Guilford  L.  Dudley:  The  First  Regiment  was  organized 
near  Warrenton  in  the  spring  of  1861.  G.  L.  Dudley  was 
appointed  one  of  the  two  quartermasters,  and  was  second 
lieutenant  of  Company  E,  First  Regiment.  He  served  with 
distinction  throughout  the  Seven  Days'  Battles,  the  South 
Mountain  campaign,  and  at  Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville,  and  Gettysburg,  and  in  other  battles.  The 
last  volley  fired  by  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was  fired 
by  N'orth  Carolina  troops,  and  the  First  Regiment  was  among 
the  number. 

Charles  D.  Ellis :  Shortly  after  the  outbreak  of  the  war  the 
Legislature  of  ISTorth  Carolina,  cooperating  with  the  Confed- 
erate Government  in  defending  the  entrance  of  the  Cape  Fear 
River  and  Wilmington,  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  forma- 
tion of  a  battalion  of  heavy  artillery  (Ninth  Battalion  Heavy 
Artillery),  to  be  composed  of  three  companies,  to  man  the 
defenses  constructed  for  the  protection  of  the  harbor  and 
the  shores  close  to  the  Cape  Fear  bar. 

The  second  company  (Company  B)  was  organized  by  Capt. 
Charles  D.  Ellis,  and  its  members  were  mostly  from  Bruns- 
wick, Duplin,  and  other  counties  near  New  Hanover.  Cap- 
tain Ellis,  however,  resigned  October,  1862,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Capt.  Jacob  W.  Taylor.     In  1863,  the  three  com- 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  281 

panies  were  organized  into  what  was  known  thereafter  as  the 
First  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

Z,  Ellis  was  one  of  the  three  lieutenants  in  Company  B — 
raised  by  C.  D.  Ellis — and  he  served  with  this  company 
throughout  the  war. 

Henry  G.  Flanner  was  originally  second  lieutenant  in 
Company  F,  Thirteenth  Battalion.  A  section  of  this  company 
served  in  the  winter  of  1863-64  and  spring  of  1864  attached 
to  MacRae's  (Tenth)  battalion  in  western  North  Carolina. 
This  battery,  under  Capt.  H.  G.  Flanner,  was  ordered  to 
Virginia  in  1862,  and  served  continuously,  with  the  above  ex- 
ception, in  General  Lee's  army.  It  served  on  the  lines  around 
Petersburg  with  great  credit.  It  surrendered  at  Appomattox. 
Flanner's  battery  is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  preventing 
the  Federal  Army  from  entering  Petersburg  on  the  morning 
of  the  springing  of  the  mine  (July  29th). 

Capt.  Owen  Fennell  entered  the  Confederate  service  as 
second  lieutenant  of  Company  C,  First  Regiment,  under  Col. 
M,  S.  Stokes,  in  June,  1861.  The  regiment  did  good  service 
during  the  Seven  Days'  campaign  around  Richmond  and  in 
the  Maryland  campaign,  and  Lieutenant  Fennell  shared  its 
marching  and  fighting  until  just  after  the  battle  of  Sharps- 
burg,  when  he  was  made  acting  assistant  commissary  of  sub- 
sistence, with  the  rank  of  captain.  He  continued  in  this 
service  until  the  office  was  abolished  after  the  Gettysburg 
campaign. 

William  Henry  Green  entered  the  service  as  a  private  in 
the  Branch  Artillery,  Capt.  A.  C.  Latham,  in  July,  1862. 
In  the  following  year  he  was  detailed  as  sergeant  major  of 
the  battalion  of  Maj.  J.  C.  Haskell,  to  which  Latham's 
battery  was  attached,  and  he  served  in  this  capacity  during 
the  remainder  of  the  war.  He  had  an  active  career  as  artil- 
leryman, participating  in  the  famous  battles  of  Cedar  Run, 
Second  Manassas,  Chantilly,  Warrenton  Springs,  Fredericks- 
burg, Gettysburg,  Spottsylvania,  and  Second  Cold  Harbor, 
and  throughout  the  siege  of  Petersburg  and  the  retreat  to 
Appomattox,  where  he  was  paroled. 


282  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Maj.  Edward  Joseph  Hale  volunteered  as  a  private  in 
the  Bethel  Eegiment,  of  which  D.  H.  Hill  was  colonel,  the 
day  after  Lincoln's  proclamation  calling  for  troops.  He  was 
in  the  first  pitched  battle  at  Big  Bethel,  June  10,  1861. 
When  that  regiment  was  disbanded  Governor  Clark  appointed 
him  a  second  lieutenant  of  ISTorth  Carolina  Troops.  In  1862 
he  was  appointed  first  lieutenant  and  adjutant,  and  assigned 
to  duty  with  the  Fifty-sixth  North  Carolina  Eegiment, 
Ransom's  brigade.  He  participated  in  all  the  engagements 
of  that  command  in  Virginia  and  eastern  ]N'orth  Carolina, 
and  distinguished  himself  for  his  coolness  and  bravery. 
Though  little  over  twenty-one  years  of  age,  General  Long- 
street  recognized  his  ability  and  appointed  him  judge-advo- 
cate of  the  department  of  court-martial.  His  ability,  fighting 
record,  and  general  qualifications  were  known  to  Brigadier- 
General  Lane,  and  that  ofiicer,  after  the  death  of  Capt. 
George  B.  Johnston,  tendered  him  the  position  of  adjutant 
general  of  his  brigade  of  veterans  in  the  fall  of  1863.  Cap- 
tain Hale  displayed  such  strong  character  in  the  conduct  of 
his  duties  that  before  the  close  of  the  terrific  campaign  of 
1864  he  was  the  idol  of  the  troops.  His  behavior  on  the 
battlefield  was  extraordinarily  cool  and  courageous.  In  the 
Wilderness,  at  Spottsylvania,  and  Turkey  Eidge;  in  many 
battles  before  Petersburg,  after  Grant  had  crossed  to  the  south 
side  of  the  James;  at  Deep  Bottom,  Gravelly  Hill,  Eiddle's 
Shop,  and  Fussell's  Mill ;  at  Eeams  Station ;  in  the  battles  of 
the  2d  of  April,  1865,  in  the  morning,  and  later  at  Battery 
Gregg  and  Battery  45 ;  at  Amelia  Courthouse,  Farmville 
and  other  engagements  on  the  retreat  to  Appomattox,  he  dis- 
tinguished himself  and  acted  with  conspicuous  gallantry.  ISTot 
long  before  the  close  of  the  war  a  remarkable  tribute  was  paid 
to  Captain  Hale's  bravery  and  skill.  Upon  the  petition  of 
the  major  commanding  the  Twenty-eighth  North  Carolina 
Eegiment  and  all  of  its  officers  present,  he  was  recommended 
by  his  brigade,  division,  and  corps  commanders  for  the 
colonelcy  of  that  regiment  because  of  conspicuous  gallantry 
and  merit.    Later,  he  was  appointed  major  on  the  staff. 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  283 

B.  Frank  Hall  served  throughout  the  war  as  a  member  of 
the  Duplin  Kifles,  or  Company  A  of  the  Forty-third  Eegi- 
ment,  North  Carolina  Infantry.  He  entered  the  service  as 
a  private,  but  soon  rose  to  the  rank  of  first  sergeant.  Ser- 
geant Hall  was  on  duty  with  his  regiment  in  Daniel's  bri- 
gade during  the  Seven  Days'  campaign  before  Richmond, 
was  under  fire  at  Malvern  Hill,  and  afterwards  at  Drewry's 
Bluff  and  Suffolk,  and  from  December,  1862,  to  June,  1863, 
he  was  on  duty  in  North  Carolina,  participating  in  the  affair 
at  Deep  Gulley.  He  took  part  in  the  terrific  fight  of  July 
1st  at  Seminary  Ridge,  and  the  next  two  days  of  the  Gettys- 
burg battles,  and  in  the  affair  at  Hagerstown,  on  the  retreat 
from  Pennsylvania.  Subsequently  being  attached  to  Hoke's 
brigade,  he  served  in  North  Carolina  at  the  battle  of  Bach- 
elors Creek,  the  siege  and  capture  of  Plymouth,  and  the 
skirmishes  before  New  Bern.  Returning  thence  to  Virginia, 
he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Hanover  Junction,  Bethesda 
Church,  in  1864;  and  in  the  spring  of  1865  he  took  part  in 
the  assault  upon  the  Federal  works  at  Hare's  Hill,  March 
25th.  On  the  morning  of  April  2d,  prior  to  the  evacuation  of 
Petersburg,  he  was  in  command  of  a  squad  of  twelve  men, 
which,  with  a  similar  squad  from  the  Forty-fifth,  entered 
Fort  Mahone,  then  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  capturing  100 
prisoners,  and  he  aided  effectively  in  the  gallant  fighting 
which  forced  the  Federals  from  the  lines.  During  the  re- 
treat Sergeant  Hall  was  in  the  battle  at  Sailor's  Creek;  and 
at  Appomattox,  Sunday  morning,  he  joined  in  the  last  as- 
sault upon  the  enemy. 

Dr.  William  White  Harriss  was  born  in  1824  and  was 
graduated  from  the  University  of  North  Carolina  in  1842. 
He  entered  the  Confederate  service  as  surgeon  of  the  Sixty- 
first  Regiment  North  Carolina  Volunteers,  and  was  on  duty 
chiefly  around  Charleston.  In  1863  General  Whiting  ap- 
pointed him  surgeon  of  the  "City  Garrison"  at  Wilmington, 
where  he  remained  until  the  surrender.  When  Wilmington 
was  evacuated  he  was  appointed  by  General  Bragg  to  remain 


284  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

as  surgeon  to  take  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded  Confederate 
soldiers. 

Maj.  Gabriel  H.  Hill,  son  of  Dr.  John  Hill  of  Kendal, 
appointed  a  lieutenant  in  the  U.  S.  Army  in  1855,  came  home 
and  served  with  high  distinction  at  the  battle  of  Eoanoke 
Island,  and  afterwards  served  across  the  Mississippi.  He  was 
a  very  fine  officer.    After  the  war  he  lived  in  Virginia. 

Lieut.  John  Hampden  Hill  enlisted  early  in  the  win- 
ter of  1863,  at  Smithville,  ^N".  C,  in  Company  H,  Fortieth 
Eegiment,  and  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  by  Gov- 
ernor Vance.  With  this  command  he  was  at  Fort  Anderson 
during  the  bombardment,  and  in  the  battles  of  Tom's  Creek, 
Wilmington,  Northeast  River,  Wise's  Fork,  near  Kinston, 
and  Bentonville,  receiving  a  wound  in  the  left  leg  in  the  last 
battle. 

Thomas  Hill,  M.D.,  entered  the  Confederate  service  in 
April,  1861.  He  was  commissioned  assistant  surgeon,  Con- 
federate States  Army,  in  July,  1861,  and  from  that  date  until 
March,  1862,  was  in  charge  of  the  general  hospital  of  the 
army  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.  Subsequently  he  was  in  charge 
of  the  general  hospital  at  Goldsboro  until  May,  1862,  when 
he  was  promoted  surgeon  in  the  Confederate  Army  and  ap- 
pointed to  the  presidency  of  the  medical  examining  board  at 
Raleigh ;  he  was  also  put  in  charge  of  General  Hospital  ISTo. 
8,  at  Raleigh,  the  building  now  known  as  Peace  Institute. 
Remaining  there  until  April,  1864,  he  was  then  assigned  as 
surgeon  to  the  Fortieth  Eegiment,  ITorth  Carolina  Troops, 
and  in  December  following  was  appointed  chief  surgeon  of 
the  ]^orth  Carolina  Reserves,  on  the  staff  of  General  Holmes. 
After  this  distinguished  career,  which  was  brought  to  a  close 
by  the  surrender  at  Greensboro,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession, 

Lieut.  George  W.  Huggins  was  mustered  into  military 
service  as  a  private  in  the  Wilmington  Rifle  Guards,  in  April, 
1861,  which  was  later  assigned  as  Company  I  to  the  Eighth 
(Eighteenth)  IN'orth  Carolina  Regiment,  one  of  the  volunteer 
regiments  of  the  State  first  organized.    Private  Huggins  was 


THE  ^YAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  285 

promoted  to  first  corporal  in  September,  1861,  and  to  second 
lieutenant  in  April,  1862.  With  his  regiment,  in  the  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia,  he  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Hanover 
Courthouse,  Mechanicsville,  Cold  Harbor,  Eraser's  Farm, 
and  Malvern  Hill.  At  the  close  of  the  bloody  Seven  Days' 
struggle  before  Richmond,  at  Harrison's  Landing,  he  re- 
ceived a  severe  vs^ound  in  the  foot,  which  disabled  him  until 
July,  1863.  He  then  returned  to  his  regiment  in  Virginia, 
but  was  detailed  for  duty  in  the  Quartermaster's  Department 
at  Wilmington,  where  he  remained  until  the  city  was  evacu- 
ated, when  he  made  his  way  to  Johnston's  army  and  was  pa- 
roled with  it  at  Greensboro. 

James  B.  Huggins  was  second  lieutenant  of  Company  G, 
Thirteenth  Battalion,  and  was  later  assigned  to  service  in  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Paymaster's  Departments,  with  the  rank 
of  captain. 

John  Christopher  James  entered  the  Confederate  service 
in  1863  at  the  age  of  sixteen  in  Company  B,  Third  Junior 
Reserves,  afterwards  the  Seventy-second  Regiment,  ISTorth 
Carolina  Troops,  Colonel  Hinsdale  commanding.  He  was 
made  orderly  sergeant  of  Company  D,  under  Captain  Kerr, 
and  later  commissioned  third  lieutenant,  and  served  in  the 
first  bombardment  of  Fort  Fisher,  in  the  engagement  at  Kins- 
ton,  ]Sr.  C.  (Hoke's  division),  and  also  at  the  battle  of  Ben- 
tonville,  IST.  C.  He  surrendered  with  General  Johnston's 
army  at  Bush  Hill,  N.  C,  April  26,  1865,  and  was  paroled 
with  his  regiment,  May  2,  1865. 

He  possessed  in  common  with  his  brother  Theodore,  to 
whom  eloquent  reference  was  made  in  Capt.  John  Cowan's 
and  Capt.  Jas.  I.  Metts'  sketch  of  the  Third  Regiment,  a 
most  attractive  personality;  and  in  his  devoted,  useful  life 
were  blended  the  finest  characteristics  of  the  old  time  South- 
ern gentleman.  Beloved  by  all  who  knew  him,  his  memory 
still  lives  in  the  hearts  of  his  friends. 

Theo.  C.  James  was  an  adjutant  in  the  Third  Regiment. 
In  writing  of  him  Captain  Cowan  and  Captain  Metts  say: 
"Adjutant  Theo.  C.  James  has  also  crossed  the  narrow  stream 


286  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

of  death.  Our  pen  falters  when  we  attempt  to  pay  tribute  to 
his  memory ;  companion  of  our  youth,  friend  of  our  manhood. 
For  him  to  espouse  a  cause  was  to  make  it  a  part  of  his  very 
self.  Intrepid,  no  more  courageous  soldier  trod  the  soil  of 
any  battlefield  upon  which  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 
encountered  a  foe.  The  impulses  of  his  nature  were  magnan- 
imous; no  groveling  thoughts  unbalanced  the  equity  of  his 
judgment.  True  to  his  friends  and  to  principle,  he  re- 
mained as 

'Constant  as  the  Northern  Star 

Of  whose  true,  fixt  and  resting  quality 

There  is  no  fellow  in  the  firmament.' 

Leaving  his  right  arm  upon  a  battlefield  in  Virginia,  and  ex- 
empt for  that  cause  from  further  military  duty,  he  disdained 
any  privilege  which  such  disability  brought  to  him,  but  con- 
tinued in  active  serice  until  the  last  shot  had  been  fired,  'arms 
stacked'  forever." 

Stephen  Jewett,  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  joined  the 
Forty-fourth  Georgia  Eegiment  of  Infantry,  near  Eichmond, 
July  1,  1862,  just  after  the  Seven  Days'  Battles.  It  was  in 
Eipley's  brigade.  He  served  with  that  regiment  until  May 
10,  1864,  never  missing  a  day's  service,  skirmish,  or  battle 
in  whicb  his  regiment  participated.  He  was  in  the  engage- 
ments at  South  Mountain,  Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg,  Chan- 
cellorsville,  Warrenton  Springs,  Morton's  Ford,  the  Wilder- 
ness, Gettysburg,  and  Spottsylvania,  where  he  was  captured, 
May  10,  1864,  and  taken  to  Fort  Delaware.  He  remained 
a  prisoner  of  war  until  March  10,  1865,  when  he  was  sent 
back  to  Eichmond  on  parole,  and  was  on  parole  furlough  when 
the  surrender  of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  ended  the 
war.  He  entered  the  Army  as  a  private  when  he  could 
scarcely  carry  a  musket  and  he  continued  to  serve  throughout 
the  war  in  that  capacity  with  ever  increasing  efficiency. 
Steadfastness,  tenacity  of  purpose,  cheerfulness  in  his  devo- 
tion to  duty,  a  high  sense  of  integrity,  have  marked  his  career 
from  boyhood  to  comparatively  old  age. 

J.  Pembroke  Jones,  a  prominent  officer  in  the  U.  S.  Na'vy, 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  287 

resigned  his  commission  and  joined  the  Confederate  Kavy. 
He  was  first  lieutenant  commanding  on  the  ironclad  sloop- 
of-war  Raleigh,  which  carried  four  guns,  and  which  attacked 
and  broke  the  Cape  Fear  blockade.  He  served  with  distinc- 
tion in  several  departments  of  the  Confederate  N"avy,  and 
after  the  war  was  employed  by  the  Argentine  Eepublic 
upon  important  military  defenses. 

Capt.  William  Eand  Kenan  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
Forty-third  Eegiment  in  November,  1863,  while  attending  the 
University  of  l^orth  Carolina.  He  was  at  once  detailed  as 
sergeant  major.  In  May  and  June,  1864,  he  was  acting 
adjutant  of  his  regiment,  and  after  that,  on  account  of  his 
gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Bethesda  Church,  he  was  ordered  by 
General  Grimes  to  take  command  of  the  sharpshooters  from 
his  regiment,  with  the  rank  of  acting  lieutenant.  While 
serving  in  this  capacity  he  was  shot  through  the  body  in  the 
fight  at  Charles  Town,  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  August  22, 
1864,  which  compelled  him  to  remain  at  home  sixty  days.  On 
recovery,  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  Company  E, 
Forty-third  Eegiment,  by  Colonel  Winston,  who  sent  in  an 
application  for  his  promotion  to  second  lieutenant  on  account 
of  distinguished  gallantry.  This  bore  the  warm  endorsement 
of  General  Grimes  and  was  approved  by  General  Early. 
After  three  weeks'  service  in  command  of  Company  E,  he 
was  appointed  adjutant  of  the  regiment,  the  rank  which  he 
held  to  the  close  of  hostilities.  Among  the  battles  and  skir- 
mishes in  which  he  was  engaged  were  the  following:  Ply- 
mouth, N".  C,  Drewry's  Bluff,  Bethesda  Church,  Gaines'  Mill, 
Cold  Harbor,  Harper's  Ferry,  Monocacy,  Md.,  Washington, 
D.  C,  Snicker's  Ford,  Kernstown,  Winchester,  Hare's  Hill, 
Petersburg,  Sailors  Creek,  Farmville,  and  Appomattox 
Courthouse. 

George  W.  Kidder  was  a  lieutenant  in  Company  A,  First 
iN'orth  Carolina  Battalion,  until  he  resigned  in  1862  or  1863. 

Charles  Humphrey  King  entered  service  in  the  Wilming- 
ton Eifle  Guards,  in  April,  1861,  serving  in  the  occupation  of 


288  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Fort  Caswell.  The  company  was  assigned  to  the  Eighth  Eegi- 
ment,  North  Carolina  Infantry,  and  he  continued  with  it, 
earning  promotion  to  corporal  and  fourth  sergeant,  until 
June,  1862,  when  the  period  of  enlistment  expired.  He  then 
became  a  private  trooper  in  the  Scotland  Neck  Rifles ;  and 
eight  or  ten  months  later  he  was  transferred  to  the  Sixty-first 
Eegiment,  North  Carolina  Infantry,  as  quartermaster  ser- 
geant. He  was  on  duty  with  this  command  until  the  surren- 
der of  Johnston's  army. 

Lieut.  William  Emmett  Kyle  enlisted  among  the  ear- 
liest volunteers  in  the  famous  First  Regiment  of  Volunteers, 
under  Col.  D.  H.  Hill,  and  shared  the  service  of  that  com- 
mand at  Big  Bethel.  After  the  disbandment  of  that  regi- 
ment, he  entered  the  Fifty-second  Regiment  of  State  Troops, 
and  was  commissioned  lieutenant  of  Company  B.  With  this 
regiment,  in  Pettigrew's  brigade,  he  participated  as  a  part 
of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  fought  at  Franklin, 
Hanover  Junction,  Gettysburg,  Hagerstown,  Falling  Waters, 
Bristow  Station,  Culpeper,  Mine  Run,  the  AVilderness,  Spott- 
sylvania  Courthouse,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Drewry's 
Bluff,  Hatcher's  Run,  Southerland's  Station,  Reams'  Station, 
Amelia  Courthouse,  and  Farmville,  and  he  surrendered  at 
Appomattox,  April  9,  1865.  Lieutenant  Kyle  was  wounded 
three  times — at  Gettysburg,  Spottsylvania  Courthouse,  and 
Petersburg — in  the  head,  hip,  and  leg;  and  he  was  taken 
prisoner  at  Petersburg,  but  managed  to  escape  a  few  hours 
later.  At  the  time  of  the  surrender  at  Appomattox  he  was  in 
command  of  the  sharpshooters  of  MacRae's  brigade. 

Col.  William  Lamb  was  elected  colonel  of  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Regiment,  which  was  composed  of  ten  companies,  and 
served  in  the  defense  of  Cape  Fear.  On  July  4,  1862,  he 
relieved  Major  Hedrick  of  the  command  of  Fort  Fisher, 
which  was  greatly  enlarged  by  Colonel  Lamb.  Colonel  Lamb 
was  wounded  and  captured  in  the  second  attack  on  Fort 
Fisher.  A  comrade,  in  writing  of  him,  says:  "One  of  the 
most  lovable  men  in  existence,  a  fine,  dashing  young  Confed- 
erate officer,   and  a  firm  friend  of  the  blockade  runners." 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  289 

Colonel  Lamb  did  distinguished  service  in  the  defense  of  the 
Cape  Fear  section. 

John  R.  Latta  was  adjutant  of  the  Fifty-first  North  Caro- 
lina Regiment,  which  was  organized  at  Wilmington,  April 
13,  1862,  and  went  into  camp  near  Wilmington,  occupying 
various  camps  near  the  city  and  at  Smithville.  About  De- 
cember 1st,  after  being  employed  on  picket  duty  and  on  va- 
rious scouting  expeditions  to  points  near  ]^ew  Bern,  the 
regiment  returned  to  Wilmington,  but  soon  afterwards  it  was 
ordered  to  Goldsboro,  and  was  under  fire  for  the  first  time 
near  that  place  (IvTeuse  River  Bridge)  when  it  engaged  the 
enemy  on  December  17th.  After  this  engagement  the  regi- 
ment returned  to  Wilmington,  where  it  remained  during  the 
winter. 

About  the  18th  of  February,  1863,  the  Fifty-first  Regi- 
ment was  ordered  to  Charleston,  and  thence  to  Savannah. 
But  after  a  few  days  at  the  latter  point,  it  was  again  ordered 
to  Charleston  and  camped  on  James  Island.  It  returned  to 
Wilmington  on  May  1st.  When  the  enemy  began  active 
operations  against  Charleston  about  July  Ist,  the  regiment 
was  sent  to  Morris  Island  as  a  garrison  for  Battery  Wagner. 
There  it  was  almost  continuously  exposed  to  the  sharp  shoot- 
ing and  cannonading  of  the  enemy  until  the  18th.  Remain- 
ing at  Charleston  until  November  24,  during  which  time  the 
Fifty-first  did  its  share  of  the  garrisoning  at  Battery  Wagner, 
it  returned  to  North  Carolina,  going  to  Tarboro  by  rail  and 
marching  to  Williamston;  and  it  was  stationed  at  Foster's 
Mill  in  Martin  County.  On  December  13th  it  returned  to 
Tarboro,  where  it  remained  until  January  5,  1864,  going 
thence  to  Petersburg,  Va.  Later,  in  January,  the  regiment 
returned  to  North  Carolina,  marching  on  New  Bern,  and 
engaged  in  a  sharp  skirmish  at  Bachelors  Creek,  driving  the 
enemy  from  their  position  and  pushing  them  into  New  Bern. 

Returning  to  Petersburg  about  April  1st,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Ivor  Station  and  marched  on  Suffolk,  returning 
to  Petersburg  about  the  first  of  May,  when  it  occupied  Dunlop 


290  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Farm,  about  four  miles  distant,  in  the  direction  of  Richmond. 
On  May  12th,  the  Fifty-first  marched  to  Drewry's  Bluff,  and 
on  the  18th  and  19th  to  Cold  Harbor,  where  on  June  1st  the 
battle  of  Cold  Harbor  was  fought. 

From  August  19th  to  December  24th  the  Fifty-first  Regi- 
ment was  engaged  in  meeting  a  raiding  party  operating  on 
the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad,  and  in  assaulting  Fort 
Harrison ;  after  which  it  received  marching  orders  and  pro- 
ceeded to  North  Carolina,  where  it  was  needed  on  account 
of  Butler's  threatening  Fort  Fisher.  After  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher  the  regiment  was  taken  by  rail  to  Kinston,  where  it 
engaged  in  three  days'  fighting,  March  7,  8,  and  9,  1865. 
The  advance  of  the  enemy  from  Wilmington  and  the  near 
approach  of  Sherman's  army  from  Fayetteville  caused  its 
withdrawal  from  Kinston,  and  orders  were  given  to  proceed 
to  Bentonville  where  the  Confederate  forces  met  and  checked 
Sherman.  The  regiment  surrendered  with  Johnston's  army 
at  Bush  Hill,  and  was  paroled  May  2,  1865,  to  return  home. 
Adjutant  Latta  was  with  the  regiment  from  the  beginning 
to  the  end,  without  once  returning  home,  having  participated 
in  the  campaigns  mentioned  above. 

Lewis  Leon,  a  well  known  resident  of  Wilmington  and  a 
veteran  of  the  Confederate  States  service,  was  born  in  Meck- 
lenburg, Germany,  iN'ovember  27,  1841.  Three  years  later 
he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  New  York  City,  whence  he 
moved  to  Charlotte  in  1858,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits as  a  clerk.  Becoming  a  member  of  the  Charlotte  Grays, 
he  entered  the  active  service  of  that  command,  going  to  the 
camp  of  instruction  at  Raleigh  on  April  21,  1861.  The 
Grays  were  assigned  to  Col.  D.  H.  Hill's  regiment,  the  First, 
as  Company  C,  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel, 
in  which  Private  Leon  was  a  participant.  At  the  expiration 
of  the  six  months'  enlistment  of  the  Bethel  Regiment,  he 
reenlisted  in  Company  B,  Capt.  Harvey  White,  of  the 
Fifty-first  Regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  William  Owen. 
He  shared  the  service  of  this  regiment  in  its  subsequent  hon- 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  291 

orable  career,  fighting  at  Gettysburg,  Bristow  Station,  Mine 
Kun,  and  the  Wilderness,  receiving  a  slight  wound  at  Gettys- 
burg, but  not  allowing  it  to  interfere  with  his  duty.  During 
the  larger  part  of  his  service  he  was  a  sharpshooter. 

On  the  5th  or  6th  of  May,  1864,  the  sharpshooters  of  his 
regiment  were  much  annoyed  by  one  of  the  Federal  sharp- 
shooters who  had  a  long  range  rifle  and  who  had  climbed  up  a 
tall  tree,  from  which  he  could  pick  off  the  men,  though  shel- 
tered by  stumps  and  stones,  himself  out  of  range  of  their  guns. 
Private  Leon  concluded  that  "this  thing  had  to  be  stopped," 
and  taking  advantage  of  every  knoll,  hollow,  and  stump,  ^  he 
crawled  near  enough  for  his  rifle  to  reach,  and  took  a  "pop"  at 
this  disturber  of  the  peace,  who  came  tumbling  down.  Upon 
running  up  to  his  victim,  Leon  discovered  him  to  be  a 
Canadian  Indian,  and  clutching  his  scalp-lock,  he  dragged 
him  back  to  the  Confederate  line. 

At  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness  he  was  captured,  and  from 
that  time  until  June,  1865,  he  was  a  prisoner  of  war  at  Point 
Lookout  and  Elmira,  1^.  Y.  Upon  being  paroled  he  visited 
his  parents  in  New  York  City,  and  then  worked  his  way  back 
to  North  Carolina.  He  is  warmly  regarded  by  his  comrades 
of  Cape  Pear  Camp,  U.  C.  V.,  and  has  served  several  terms 
as  its  adjutant.  When  Col.  James  T.  Morehead  prepared  a 
sketch  of  his  regiment,  the  Pifty-third,  Private  Leon  fur- 
nished him  with  a  copy  of  a  diary  which  he  had  kept  from  the 
organization  of  the  regiment  up  to  the  5th  of  May,  1864, 
when  he  was  captured. 

Kichard  P.  Langdon  was  one  of  the  second  lieutenants  of 
Company  E  (New  Hanover  County),  Pirst  Regiment  North 
Carolina  Troops,  and  was  subsequently  appointed  captain  and 
quartermaster  of  the  Third  North  Carolina  Infantry. 

Capt.  Thomas  C.  Lewis  became  a  member  of  the  Wil- 
mington Eifle  Guards  and  went  on  duty  with  that  organiza- 
tion early  in  the  conflict.  When  it  became  Company  I  of  the 
Eighth  Regiment  he  was  appointed  a  sergeant,  and  after  the 
relnlistment  in  1862  he  served  as  quartermaster  sergeant 
20 


292  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

until  the  battle  of  Second  Manassas,  when  he  became  second 
lieutenant  of  his  company.  At  this  battle  he  received  a 
severe  wound  in  the  hip  which  disabled  him  for  half  a  year. 
Upon  rejoining  his  command  he  was  promoted  to  be  captain. 
He  served  with  his  company  until  he  was  captured  in  the 
disaster  to  Johnson's  division  at  Spottsylvania  Courthouse. 
He  was  confined  at  Fort  Delaware,  and  shared  the  bitter  ex- 
perience of  the  500  officers  held  under  fire  at  Morris  Island, 
and  he  was  not  released  until  June,  1865.  It  is  much  to 
the  credit  of  Captain  Lewis'  memory  that  although  efforts 
■were  made  by  his  Northern  kinsmen  to  induce  him  to  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance  while  he  was  a  prisoner  at  Fort  Dela- 
ware, he  manfully  refused  and  remained  a  prisoner  of  war 
until  the  final  surrender. 

Capt.  J.  W.  Lippitt  was  captain  of  Company  G,  Fifty- 
first  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops,  and  commanded  the 
regiment  at  the  surrender  at  Bush  Hill,  N.  C. 

Maj.  Charles  W.  McClammy  joined  a  cavalry  company 
commanded  by  Captain  Newkirk  at  the  beginning  of  hostili- 
ties in  1861,  and  was  elected  lieutenant  of  this  organization. 
This  company  did  good  service  in  eastern  North  Carolina, 
among  its  achievements  being  the  capture  of  a  gunboat  of 
the  enemy  which  had  grounded  in  New  Eiver  in  Onslow 
County.  Upon  the  resignation  of  Captain  Newkirk,  Lieu- 
tenant McClammy  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy.  His  sub- 
sequent gallant  career  is  well  described  in  the  following  ex- 
tract from  an  address  delivered  by  Colonel  Moore:  "From 
the  time  he  gave  his  services  to  his  State  and  country,  he  was 
all  enthusiasm  and  dash,  and  never  lost  an  opportunity  to  do 
his  best.  In  nearly  every  fight  our  regiment  was  engaged  in 
he  was  present,  and  in  glorious  service.  His  services  were  so 
meritorious  that  Colonel  Baker,  before  his  capture,  spoke  of 
wanting  to  promote  him.  When  he  was  promoted,  he  was 
ninth  captain  in  rank,  and  one  of  the  youngest,  if  not  the 
very  youngest.  He  was  complimented  in  general  orders  for 
gallant  services  in  battles  on  the  White  Oak  and  Charles  City 
road." 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  293 

During  the  Holden-Kirk  war,  in  1870,  favored  by  the  local 
factions  and  divisions  of  the  dominant  Eepublicans,  Major 
McClammy  and  Capt.  Samuel  A.  Ashe  v^^ere  elected  to  the 
Assembly,  and  became  leaders  in  the  important  M^ork  of  that 
body,  remedying  many  of  the  excesses  of  the  Reconstruction 
period,  impeaching  and  deposing  the  Governor,  pacifying 
the  State,  and  measurably  unifying  the  discordant  elements 
of  the  white  people  of  the  State.  Many  years  then  elapsed 
before  New  Hanover  had  another  Democratic  Representative 
in  the  Assembly.  Later  Major  McClammy  represented  the 
Cape  Fear  District  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States. 

"William  Dougald  McMillan,  M.D.,  enlisted  in  the  spring 
of  1861,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  in  the  Topsail  Rifles, 
with  which  he  served  one  year  on  the  coast.  In  the  spring  of 
1862  he  became  a  member  of  Rankin's  heavy  artillery;  but, 
after  a  few  months'  service,  he  provided  a  substitute  for  that 
command  and  volunteered  as  a  private  in  the  Fifty-first  Regi- 
ment of  Infantry.  There  he  served  in  1863  as  sergeant 
major,  and  during  1864-65,  while  able  for  duty,  as  acting 
adjutant.  His  regiment  was  attached  to  Clingman's  brigade 
and  did  gallant  service  in  North  Carolina  and  Virginia.  He 
shared  its  fortunes  in  battle  at  Plymouth,  Bermuda  Hundred, 
Drewry's  Bluff,  Cold  Harbor,  Port  Walthall  Junction,  in  the 
trenches  at  Petersburg  and  the  fighting  on  the  Weldon  Rail- 
road, and  at  Fort  Harrison  and  the  Crater.  He  was  slightly 
wounded  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  Second  Cold  Harbor,  Bermuda 
Hundred,  and  Petersburg,  and  seriously  at  Fort  Harrison. 
He  was  last  in  battle  in  the  defense  of  Fort  Fisher.  He 
surrendered  at  High  Point  in  the  spring  of  1865. 

Alexander  MacRae:  Shortly  after  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  in  1861,  the  Legislature  of  North  Carolina  cooperating 
with  the  Confederate  Government  in  defending  the  entrance 
to  the  Cape  Fear  River,  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  forma- 
tion of  a  battalion  of  heavy  artillery,  to  be  composed  of  three 
companies.  One  of  the  companies  was  raised  by  Capt. 
Alexander  MacRae,  of  Wilmington.  Captain  MacRae  had 
been   President  of  the  Wilmington   and  Weldon  Railroad 


294  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Company,  and  was  then  well  advanced  in  age.  Captain  Mac- 
Eae's  company  was  on  duty  at  Fort  Anderson  and  at  Fort 
Fisher.  In  1863,  four  companies  were  organized  into  a  bat- 
talion with  Alexander  MacRae  as  major,  the  companies  be- 
ing known  as  Companies  A,  B,  C,  and  D,  of  the  First  Bat- 
talion of  Heavy  Artillery.  This,  with  the  Thirty-sixth  and 
Fortieth  Regiments,  and  attached  companies,  formed  Hebert's 
brigade.  After  participating  in  the  defense  of  the  lower  Cape 
Fear,  this  brigade  returned  to  Goldsboro  and  fought  at  Ben- 
tonville.    Major  MacRae  was  paroled  in  May,  1865. 

Henry  MacRae:  The  Eighth  Regiment,  North  Carolina 
State  Troops,  was  organized  at  Camp  Macon,  near  Warrenton, 
N.  C,  in  August  and  September,  1861,  and  Henry  MacRae 
was  commissioned  captain  of  Company  C.  Captain  MacRae 
died  while  in  service. 

Capt.  Walter  G.  MacRae,  a  gallant  IN'orth  Carolina  sol- 
dier, was  born  in  Wilmington,  January  27,  1841.  He  was 
educated  in  'New  England,  entering  a  private  school  in  Boston 
in  1856,  graduating  at  the  English  High  School  in  that  city 
in  1860,  receiving  the  Franklin  medal,  and  then  studied  law 
at  the  Harvard  Law  School  until  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  in 
1861,  when  he  returned  home  to  fight  for  his  State.  Joining 
the  Eighth  North  Carolina,  he  accompanied  it  to  South  Caro- 
lina, and  a  few  months  later  was  transferred  to  the  heavy 
artillery  and  stationed  at  Fort  Fisher.  Subsequently  he  be- 
came a  member  of  McISTeill's  Partisan  Rangers,  and,  after 
an  adventurous  career  of  thirteen  months  with  that  command, 
joined  Company  C  of  the  Seventh  North  Carolina  Infantry, 
with  a  commission  as  lieutenant  from  Governor  Ellis.  From 
that  time  he  was  in  command  of  his  company,  with  promotion 
to  captain  after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  Among  the  engage- 
ments in  which  he  participated  were  the  encounters  at  Thomp- 
son's Bridge,  on  the  Neuse  River,  the  skirmish  near  Pollocks- 
ville,  and  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  where  he  was  slightly 
wounded  in  the  right  thigh.  Afterward  he  was  in  command 
of  three  companies  of  skirmishers  during  the  fighting  on  the 
Rappahannock  River.    At  Gettysburg  he  was  in  battle  three 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  295 

days,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  third  day  received  a  severe 
wound  in  the  left  thigh.  While  being  carried  to  Richmond  he 
was  sick  three  weeks  with  fever  at  Newton,  Va.,  and,  on  reach- 
ing the  Confederate  capital,  he  was  granted  a  furlough  for 
forty  days.  In  May,  1864,  he  participated  in  the  death 
grapple  of  the  armies  in  the  Wilderness  and  had  the  misfor- 
tune to  be  captured.  He  was  held  at  Fort  Delaware,  and  in 
the  following  August  was  one  of  the  500  officers  placed  under 
fire  at  Morris  Island,  thence  being  returned  to  Fort  Delaware 
and  held  until  the  close  of  hostilities. 

Gen.  William  MacRae  was  a  man  of  commanding  gifts, 
but  very  strong  prejudices.  The  severity  of  his  discipline  in 
his  regiment  was  universally  known.  He  was  elected  lieuten- 
ant colonel  of  the  Fifteenth  Eegiment,  and  afterwards,  on 
June  22,  1864,  was  appointed  brigadier  general  and  assigned 
to  the  command  of  Kirkland's  brigade.  An  officer  of  the  regi- 
ment speaking  of  General  MacEae,  said :  "General  MacRae 
soon  won  the  confidence  and  admiration  of  the  brigade,  both 
officers  and  men.  His  voice  was  like  that  of  a  woman ;  he  was 
small  in  person  and  quick  in  action.  History  has  never 
done  him  justice.  He  could  place  his  command  in  position 
quicker  and  infuse  more  of  his  fighting  qualities  into  his 
men  than  any  other  officer  I  ever  saw.  His  presence  with  his 
troops  seemed  to  dispel  all  fear  and  to  inspire  every  one  with  a 
desire  for  the  fray.  The  brigade  remained  under  his  com^ 
mand  until  the  surrender.  General  MacRae  on  being  as- 
signed to  the  brigade  changed  the  physical  expression  of  the 
whole  command  in  less  than  two  weeks,  and  gave  the  men  in- 
finite faith  in  him  and  in  themselves  which  was  never  lost, 
not  even  when  they  grounded  arms  at  Appomattox." 

General  MacRae  distinguished  himself  in  the  battle  of 
Reams  Station,  August  25th,  when  with  a  small  force  he 
captured  several  flags  and  cannon,  killed  a  large  number  of 
the  enemy,  and  took  2,100  prisoners.  He  was  one  of  the  best 
of  Lee's  brigadiers  and  won  a  most  enviable  reputation. 

Capt.  Robert  B.  MacRae  was  captain  of  Company  C  (New 
Hanover   County),    Seventh  Regiment,    and   was  wounded 


296  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

in  the  battle  of  Hanover  Conrthonse,  May  27,  1862.  Colonel 
Havwood  was  wounded  in  the  second  battle  of  Manassas,  and 
Captain  MacRae  took  command  of  the  regiment,  and  right 
gallantly  did  he  discharge  the  duties  imposed  upon  him.  In 
this  battle  he  was  severely  wounded.  Later,  he  was  promoted 
to  be  major  of  the  regiment. 

Macrae's  battalion,  commanded  by  Maj.  James  C.  Mac- 
Rae,  was  better  known  as  the  Eighteenth  Battalion.  It 
was  organized  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1863  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  counties  of  western  North  Carolina  against  the 
bushwhackers  and  partisan  leaders.  No  general  engagement 
between  the  whole  force  and  the  enemy  ever  occurred,  but 
there  were  frequent  encounters  between  the  detached  com- 
panies and  parties  of  bushwhackers  who  infested  the  moun- 
tains. There  were  many  stirring  adventures  and  brave  and 
venturesome  acts  by  these  men,  whose  history  ought  to  have 
been  better  preserved. 

Capt.  Robert  M.  Mclntire,  of  Rocky  Point,  raised  a 
cavalry  company  in  the  spring  of  1862,  afterwards  known  as 
Company  C,  Fourth  Regiment  Cavalry.  He  furnished  sa- 
bres, saddles,  and  twelve  horses,  and  he  was  elected  first  lieu- 
tenant, while  his  uncle,  Dr.  Andrew  Mclntire,  became  cap- 
tain. In  September,  1863,  Lieutenant  Mclntire  was  pro- 
moted to  be  captain  of  his  company. 

The  service  of  Company  C  was  first  near  Suffolk,  Va.,  and 
then  in  eastern  North  Carolina.  It  was  a  part  of  the  force 
that  in  December,  1862,  repelled  Foster's  army,  which 
threatened  to  capture  Goldsboro,  and  pursued  it  until  the 
Federal  column  found  shelter  in  New  Bern.  Some  months 
later  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Virginia,  and  along  with 
the  Fifth  North  Carolina  Cavalry,  formed  Robertson's  cav- 
alry brigade,  which  was  a  part  of  the  great  cavalry  division 
under  the  command  of  that  brilliant  and  dashing  leader.  Gen. 
J.  E.  B.  Stuart. 

Company  C  shared  all  the  vicissitudes  and  endured  all 
the  hardships  of  the  Gettysburg  campaign.  Its  history  is  a 
part  of  the  history  of  the  regiment.    At  Middleburg  it  struck 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  297 

the  First  Rhode  Island  Regiment,  and  "then  commenced  a 
series  of  cavalry  battles  continuing  through  several  days,  in 
which  the  regiment  was  an  active  participant,  suffering  great 
loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  captured."  Then  on  the  21st  of 
June,  near  Upperville,  "the  fighting  became  desperate,  often 
hand  to  hand,  with  severe  loss.  *  *  *  All  the  companies 
were  engaged  in  this  fight  and  sustained  losses." 

The  Fourth  Regiment  passed  through  Hagerstown,  and  on 
July  1st,  reached  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  then 
moved  towards  Carlisle,  but  soon  hurried  to  Gettysburg,  ar- 
riving on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  when,  at  once  becoming 
engaged,  it  charged  and  routed  the  Federal  Cavalry.  But 
this  hard  contest  was  the  end  of  Captain  Mclntire's  fine, 
active  career.  Like  many  others  he  fell  into  the  enemy's 
hands  at  South  Mountain,  Pennsylvania,  and,  along  with 
Colonel  Kenan  and  hundreds  of  other  brave  soldiers  of  the 
Cape  Fear,  he  suffered  all  the  terrible  hardships  of  a  long 
captivity  on  Johnsons  Island ;  and  it  was  not  until  the  war 
had  virtually  closed,  March  15,  1865,  that  he  was  paroled. 

John  C.  Mcllhenny  was  a  first  lieutenant  in  Company  E, 
Light  Artillery,  Tenth  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops ;  a 
fine  officer. 

Thomas  Hall  McKoy,  of  Wilmington,  entered  the  army 
early  in  the  war  and  saw  active  service  throughout  the  cam- 
paigns of  the  Branch-Lane  Brigade,  of  which  he  was  one  of 
the  two  commissaries,  with  rank  of  major. 

His  devotion  to  the  cause,  and  his  eminence  as  a  merchant 
of  Wilmington  are  worthy  of  honorable  mention.  He  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  the  close  of  hostilities  and  died 
some  years  ago,  respected  and  honored  by  his  friends  and 
associates. 

Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  jr.,  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Third 
North  Carolina  Infantry,  and  was  well  beloved  and  faithful. 
He  was  commissioned  May  16,  1861,  from  New  Hanover 
County.  Sergt.  Maj.  Robert  McRee,  son  of  Dr.  James  F. 
McRee,  jr.,  was  killed  at  Spottsylvania  Courthouse;  a  gallant 
soldier. 


298  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Henry  C.  McQueen^  :  The  family  of  McQueens  from  whom 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  descended  is  distinijiiished  and 
widely  extended.  In  the  Highlands  of  Scotland  they  adhered 
to  the  cause  of  Charles  Edward,  the  Pretender,  with  loyal 
and  romantic  valor,  and  when  his  sun  went  down  forever  on 
the  fatal  field  of  Culloden  many  of  them  left  the  wild  and 
picturesque  scenery  which  surrounded  their  early  homes  and 
emigrated  to  America.  Among  the  first  of  this  number  was 
James  McQueen,  from  whom  Henry  C.  McQueen,  is  lineally 
descended.  Henry  C.  McQueen  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Lumberton,  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  July,  1846.  The  section 
in  which  he  was  born  was  intensely  devoted  to  the  fortunes  of 
the  South  in  the  War  between  the  States,  and  he  inherited 
strongly  this  sentiment,  with  an  abiding  faith  in  the  justice 
of  its  cause.  Animated  by  the  martial  spirit  of  the  race  from 
which  he  sprung,  he  enlisted  while  a  lad  as  a  private  in  the 
First  iN'orth  Carolina  Battery  of  Artillery.  The  boy  soldier, 
whether  in  camp,  on  the  march,  or  upon  the  field  of  battle, 
won  the  affection  and  admiration  of  his  comrades  by  the 
faithful  and  conscientious  discharge  of  every  duty  which  de- 
volved upon  him.  On  the  15th  day  of  January,  1865,  his  ca- 
reer as  a  soldier  was  brought  to  an  end  by  the  capture  of 
Fort  Fisher,  when  he  was  wounded  and  made  prisoner.  He 
was  detained  by  the  Federal  authorities  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  which  soon  followed  this  event,  so  calamitous  to  the  for- 
tunes of  the  Southern  Confederacy,  yet  so  much  to  its  glory. 

He  commenced  his  business  career  in  Wilmington,  North 
Carolina,  in  1866,  and  it  has  been  one  of  uninterrupted  honor 
and  success.  He  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Murchison  & 
Company,  distinguished  for  its  fair  dealing  and  without  blem- 
ish or  stain.  He  has  served  two  terms  as  president  of  the 
Produce  Exchange  of  the  city  of  Wilmington,  now  known 
as  the  Chamber  of  Commerce.  Since  1898  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Audit  and  Finance  of  the  City  of 
Wilmington,  and  has  been  its  chairman  since  1896. 

In  March,  1899,  the  Murchison  National  Bank  of  the  City 
of  Wilmington  was  organized.    Its  founders  were  strong  men, 


lExtract  from  Ashe's  Biographical  History  of  North  Carolina. 


THE  ^YAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  299 

skilled  in  finance  and  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  busi- 
ness interests  of  the  country  at  large,  as  well  as  of  their  own 
immediate  section.  With  one  accord  they  named  Henry  C. 
McQueen  as  its  president.  He  has  ever  executed  the  trust 
which  was  confided  to  him  with  unquestioned  integrity  and 
with  rare  skill  and  ability.  Its  success  has  been  remarkable 
and  unexcelled  in  the  financial  history  of  the  State.  Today 
not  a  single  bank  in  North  Carolina  has  so  large  a  deposit 
account,  and  none  is  held  in  higher  repute.  From  the  day 
when  its  doors  were  first  opened  for  business  to  the  present 
time  it  has  felt  the  lasting  impress  of  the  splendid  financial 
capacity  and  superior  management  of  its  first  and  only  presi- 
dent. Nor  has  the  success  of  that  other  great  financial  insti- 
tution of  Wilmington,  always  under  his  guidance  and  control, 
been  less  marked.  Organized  in  April,  1900,  the  Peoples 
Savings  Bank  soon  reached  a  degree  of  prosperity  which  has 
made  it  a  marvel  to  the  public.  Mr.  McQueen  has  been 
for  many  years  a  member  of  the  directory  of  the  Carolina 
Insurance  Company  of  Wilmington,  which  has  a  high  and 
honorable  record.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Bank 
of  Duplin  at  Wallace,  North  Carolina,  in  1903,  and  became 
its  president,  which  position  he  still  holds.  He  is  actively 
connected  with  various  other  important  enterprises  in  Wil- 
mington and  its  vicinity. 

The  personality  of  Henry  C.  McQueen  is  most  attractive. 
He  combines  a  quiet  dignity  and  reserve  with  gentleness  and 
courtesy.  His  frankness  and  sincerity  at  once  enlist  confi- 
dence. Perhaps  the  most  marked  feature  of  his  character, 
next  to  his  moral  firmness,  is  his  unaffected  modesty,  which 
has  endeared  him  to  his  associates  and  won  for  him  universal 
respect  wherever  he  is  known.  In  his  intercourse  with  his 
fellow-men  he  is  singularly  free  from  selfishness,  and  his  chief 
incentive  in  the  struggle -of  life  has  been  a  supreme  sense  of 
duty  and  tender  attachment  for  his  wife  and  children.  His 
success  has  been  won  without  willful  wrong  to  any  one  of  his 
fellow-men  and  without  self-abasement  or  compromise  of 
right.    Above  all  he  is  a  consistent  Christian,  with  an  abiding 


300  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

faith  in  the  life  to  come  and  an  absolute  confidence  in  its 
immortality.  He  has  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Wilmington,  and  since  1898 
has  been  chairman  of  its  Board  of  Deacons. 

He  was  married  on  the  9th  day  of  November,  1871,  to 
Miss  Mary  Aggies  Hall,  of  Fayetteville,  North  Carolina,  a 
woman  whose  Christian  virtues  and  gentle  heart  made  her  the 
charm  and  delight  of  the  circle  in  which  she  moved.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  Avon  E.  Hall,  a  merchant  of  high  repute. 
Her  mother,  before  marriage,  was  Margaret  Bell,  a  most 
accomplished  lady,  whose  father  was  a  distinguished  architect. 
From  the  time  of  their  marriage  until  her  death  in  January, 
1904,  their  home  was  one  long  happy  dream  where  discord 
was  unknown. 

Capt.  Eugene  S.  Martin  was  fourth  sergeant  of  the 
Wilmington  Rifle  Guards,  a  company  formed  before  the  war 
and  which  entered  service  on  April  15,  1861,  on  the  occupa- 
tion of  Fort  Caswell.  Captain  Martin  was  assigned  to  duty 
as  sergeant  major,  and  afterwards  as  adjutant  of  the  post,  and 
served  as  such  until  June  20,  1861,  when  he  resigned  the 
office  and  returned  to  his  company.  In  the  meantime  the 
Eighth  Regiment  was  formed,  and  the  Wilmington  Rifle 
Guards  became  Company  I  of  that  regiment.  Captain  Martin 
being  second  sergeant,  in  which  capacity  he  served  until  he 
was  mustered  out  April  15,  1862.  He  was  commissioned  in 
May,  1862,  first  lieutenant  of  Artillery,  and  assigned  to  Com- 
pany A,  First  North  Carolina  Battalion  of  Heavy  Artillery. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  he  was  detached  from  the  company 
and  ordered  to  Fort  Caswell  as  ordnance  officer,  where  he 
served  until  the  fort  was  evacuated  and  blown  up  in  January, 
1865,  upon  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher.  He  served  at  Fort  An- 
derson during  the  bombardment  in  February,  1865,  as  ord- 
nance officer,  and  at  the  battles  of  Town  Creek,  Kinston,  and 
Bentonville,  as  ordnance  officer  of  Hagood's  brigade;  and 
afterwards  was  ordered  to  the  brigade  of  Junior  Reserves,  as 
ordnance  officer,  to  assist  in  organizing  that  brigade.  He 
never  received  his   commission  of  captain,   but   ranked   as 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  301 

captain  during  the  time  lie  was  at  Fort  Caswell  and  until  tHe 
end  of  the  war.  He  surrendered  in  Wilmington  in  May, 
1865,  to  General  Hawlej,  commanding  that  post,  and  after- 
wards took  the  oath  of  allegiance. 

John  E.  Matthews :  When  Fort  Sumter  was  bombarded  by 
Beauregard,  Doctor  Matthews  was  a  member  of  the  Elm  City 
cadets,  of  New  Bern,  which  were  ordered  at  once  to  take 
possession  of  Fort  Macon.  He  remained  there  for  two  months 
under  Col.  C.  C.  Tew,  who  was  in  command,  and  returned 
with  the  company  to  New  Bern,  where  he  remained  until 
ordered  to  Garysburg,  N.  C,  when  the  company  became  a 
part  of  the  Second  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops,  under 
Colonel  Tew.  Doctor  Matthews  served  continuously  and 
actively  with  this  regiment  throughout  the  war. 

After  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  in  December,  1862,  the 
first  corps  of  sharpshooters  for  Ramseur's  brigade  was  organ- 
ized, which  was  the  beginning  of  this  branch  of  the  service, 
and  Doctor  Matthews  was  made  second  sergeant  of  the  corps, 
participating  at  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  and  Kelly's 
Ford,  where,  while  on  picket  duty,  he  was  captured.  He  was 
confined  at  Point  Lookout,  but  was  exchanged  in  February, 
1865,  and  returned  to  duty  at  Petersburg,  and  took  part  in  the 
subsequent  battles  around  Petersburg  and  on  the  retreat  at 
Sailor's  Creek,  where  he  was  again  captured  and  again  con- 
fined at  Point  Lookout  until  July  1st,  1865,  months  after  the 
surrender. 

Thomas  D.  Meares  has  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  boy 
soldiers  of  North  Carolina  during  the  closing  scenes  of  the 
great  struggle.  In  December,  1864,  being  about  sixteen  years 
of  age,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Junior  Reserves,  but 
within  a  few  weeks  his  soldierly  qualities  led  to  his  selection 
as  a  courier  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  between 
Hillsboro  and  Durham,  and  he  began  a  service  as  courier  for 
that  gallant  cavalry  commander  which  continued  until  the 
end  of  the  war. 

Col.  Oliver  Pendleton  Meares  was  captain  of  the  Wil- 
mington Eifle  Guards,  which  was  one  of  the  companies  that 


302  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

occujoied  Fort  Caswell  on  April  16,  1861.  This  company 
was  composed  of  all  the  best  young  men  of  Wilmington  who 
were  not  members  of  the  older  company,  the  Wilmington 
Light  Infantry.  At  one  time  it  had  on  its  rolls  more  than  a 
hundred  men,  ranging  from  sixteen  to  twenty-two  years  of 
age,  and  only  one  married  man  among  them. 

On  the  formation  of  the  Eighth  Eegiment  of  Volunteers, 
the  Eifle  Guards  became  Company  I  of  that  Regiment.  The 
organization  was  effected  at  Camp  Wyatt  on  July  1,  1861, 
and  Colonel  Radcliffe  was  elected  colonel  and  Oliver  P. 
Meares  lieutenant  colonel.  The  Eifle  Guards,  like  the  Wil- 
mington Light  Infantry,  furnished  a  large  number  of  officers 
to  other  organizations  of  the  State. 

On  the  expiration  of  the  twelve  months  for  which  the 
volunteer  companies  had  originally  enlisted,  the  regiment 
was  reorganized,  and  Colonel  Meares  retired  as  lieutenant 
colonel.  On  the  formation  of  the  ten  regiments  of  State 
Troops,  enlisted  for  three  years  or  the  war,  they  were  caUed 
First  Eegiment,  North  Carolina  State  Troops,  and  so  on; 
and  the  Eighth  Eegiment  Volunteers  became  the  Eighteenth, 
and  so  on. 

In  August,  1862,  Colonel  Meares  became  commissary  of 
the  Sixty-first  Eegiment.  Wilmington  never  had  a  truer  son 
than  Colonel  Meares.  After  the  war  he  became  a  judge,  and 
his  memory  is  justly  revered. 

Capt.  E.  G.  Meares,  of  Company  D,  Third  North  Carolina 
State  Troops,  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg.  He  was 
"a  good  soldier,  a  brave  man,  discharging  his  duty  under  all 
conditions.'  He  was  a  young  man  of  lovely  character  and  was 
greatly  lamented. 

Capt.  James  I.  Metts,  of  Wilmington,  was  bom  at  Kin- 
ston,  ]Sr.  C,  March  16,  1842,  and  was  reared  from  the  age  of 
six  in  the  city  where  he  now  resides.  Early  in  1861  he  left 
the  State  University  to  enlist  in  the  Eifle  Guards,  organizing 
in  anticipation  of  war,  and  on  April  15th  was  with  his  com- 
pany in  the  seizure  of  Fort  Caswell.  Soon  afterward  his 
company  was  assigned  to  the  Eighth  Eegiment,  and  he  was 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  303 

made  corporal  and  was  one  of  the  color  guard  of  the  regiment 
when  it  was  ordered  to  Coosawhatehie,  S.  C.  On  leaving  the 
latter  place  he  was  given  charge  of  the  regimental  colors, 
which  he  carried  until  his  term  of  service  expired,  after 
twelve  months.  Eeenlisting,  he  became  fifth  sergeant  of 
Company  G,  Third  Regiment,  Col.  Gaston  Meares,  and  en- 
tered the  campaign  before  Richmond  at  the  close  of  the  battle 
of  Seven  Pines.  He  took  part  in  the  Seven  Days'  Battle 
with  distinction,  winning  attention  by  his  unassuming  bra- 
very and  ability  as  sergeant,  specially  manifested  in  reform- 
ing part  of  the  regiment  at  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  and 
in  command  of  a  detail  guarding  a  causeway  in  the  Chica- 
hominy  Swamp.  He  was  among  those  who  received  the  last 
orders  of  Colonel  Meares  before  he  was  killed  at  Malvern 
Hill.  After  this  fight  he  was  made  orderly  sergeant,  and, 
on  return  to  camp  near  Richmond,  he  was  honored  by  being 
assigned  to  the  main  work  of  drilling  the  recruits  for  his 
company.  During  the  Maryland  campaign  he  was  disabled 
by  illness  contracted  in  the  Peninsula  swamp,  but  he  rejoined 
his  company  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  Captain  Rhodes  and  First 
Lieutenant  Quince  having  been  killed  at  Sharpsburg,  in  the 
promotions  which  followed  Sergeant  Metts  became  senior 
second  lieutenant.  At  Winchester  he  was  detailed  as  com- 
missary of  the  regiment,  and  after  Front  Royal  he  discharged 
the  duties  of  adjutant.  His  coolness  at  Fredericksburg  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  superior  officers.  Afterward  he  was 
disabled  by  pneumonia,  and  he  was  in  the  hospital  at  Rich- 
mond until  the  regiment  started  through  Culpeper  toward 
Pennsylvania,  when  he  joined  it  and  took  part  in  the  fighting 
around  Winchester,  where  his  brigade,  Stuart's,  at  Jordan 
Springs,  did  much  toward  the  victory  over  Milroy.  He  com- 
manded the  rear  guard  of  the  brigade  two  days  prior  to  cross- 
ing the  Potomac. 

In  the  Confederate  assault  at  Gulp's  Hill,  on  the  evening 
of  the  second  day  of  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  he  led  his  men 
forward  and  was  soon  hotly  engaged  within  seventy-five  yards 
of  the  second  line  of  Federal  breastworks.    In  the  dark  some 


304  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

boy  soldier  came  up  to  him  and  said,  "Lieutenant,  my  father 
is  killed."  He  could  only  answer,  "Well,  we  cannot  help  it," 
and  the  boy,  replying,  "No,  we  cannot  help  it,"  turned  about 
and  resumed  firing  as  rapidly  as  he  could  at  the  enemy.  Long 
afterward  the  Lieutenant  was  told  that  the  boy  kept  up  his 
firing  until  exhausted,  and  that  next  day  his  face  was  black 
with  powder.  A  few  minutes  later  Lieutenant  Metts  felt  his 
right  breast  penetrated  by  a  rifle  ball  and  experienced  the  ex- 
cruciating pain  that  follows  a  wound  in  the  lungs.  He  turned 
to  Lieut.  Col.  William  M.  Parsley,  Adjutant  James,  and 
Capt.  Ed.  H.  Armstrong,  three  as  brave  men  as  ever  stepped 
to  the  tap  of  the  drum,  and  told  them  his  condition,  and 
James  helped  him  to  the  ambulance  corps.  He  soon  fell 
from  loss  of  blood  and  suffered  terrible  pain  as  he  was 
hauled  two  miles  over  the  rough  road  in  an  ambulance.  But 
for  the  care  of  a  Sister  of  Charity  he  would  have  died  in  the 
field  hospital.  Many  people  from  Baltimore  and  elsewhere 
visited  the  wounded  Confederates  at  Gettysburg,  bringing 
clothing  and  delicacies  of  food.  An  elderly  lady  who  brought 
two  charming  young  lady  friends,  finding  that  Mr.  Metts' 
bed  had  no  sheet,  pulled  off  her  petticoat,  tore  it  in  two,  and 
pinned  it  together,  saying,  "Don't  mind  me,  boys,  I'm  a 
mother ;  and  he  shall  have  a  good  sheet  to-morrow."  The  same 
kindness  followed  him  in  the  general  camp  hospital  and  in  the 
West  Building  Hospital  at  Baltimore,  where  he  found  his 
kinsmen.  Col.  Thomas  S.  and  James  G.  Kenan,  also  wounded 
on  Gulp's  Hill.  Soon  afterward  he  was  transferred  to  John- 
sons Island,  Lake  Erie,  where  Colonel  Kenan  was  his  bunk- 
mate  for  thirteen  months.  Their  sufferings  here  during  the 
winter  were  very  severe,  with  insufficient  food,  scanty  cloth- 
ing, in  houses  neither  ceiled  nor  plastered,  and  with  but  one 
stove  for  about  sixty  prisoners.  During  one  night,  January 
1,  1864,  when  the  mercury  was  twenty  degrees  below  zero 
and  even  the  guard  was  forced  to  take  shelter,  Maj.  John 
Winsted  and  three  or  four  others  escaped  and  made  their 
way  across  the  ice  to  the  mainland,  but  the  excessive  cold 
prevented  them  from  going  further,  except  Major  Winsted, 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  305 

who  reached  Canada  and  returned  to  the  Confederacy  on  a 
blockade  runner.  Many  tunnels  were  dug  for  escape,  but  were 
invariably  discovered ;  and  many  amusing  incidents  occurred 
in  connection  with  them.  The  treatment  of  the  prisoners  by 
the  guards  was  cruel.  In  August,  1864,  Lieutenant  Metts  was 
selected,  as  one  of  the  most  enfeebled  and  delicate  of  the 
prisoners,  for  exchange,  and  not  long  afterwards  found  him- 
self again  upon  the  streets  of  Kichmond,  rejoicing  in  a  new 
lease  of  life,  for  he  had  been  assured  that  he  could  not  survive 
another  winter  on  Johnsons  Island.  He  found  that  Cap- 
tain Armstrong,  an  amiable  gentleman,  fine  scholar,  and  one 
of  the  bravest  of  men,  had  been  killed  at  Spottsylvania,  and 
he  had  been  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of  his  company,  which 
he  joined  at  Staunton  in  December.  He  took  command  of  his 
company  and  Company  E,  and  served  in  Cox's  brigade  of 
Grimes'  division,  though  his  health  was  very  delicate,  until 
detailed  to  serve  on  the  staff  of  Major  General  Grimes  as 
special  instructor  of  division.  The  night  before  arms  were 
stacked  at  Appomattox  he  accompanied  a  band  from  division 
headquarters  to  serenade  General  Lee,  who  was  too  much 
affected  to  say  much,  but  gave  each  of  the  boys  a  warm  pres- 
sure of  the  hand  and  an  affectionate  good-bye.  He  started 
home  in  company  with  Gen.  W.  R.  Cox,  Surgeon  Thomas  F. 
Wood  and  others,  and,  after  joining  his  mother,  brothers,  and 
sisters  at  Graham,  went  to  Wilmington  and  began  the  strug- 
gle of  civil  life,  with  the  duty  of  caring  for  his  family,  who 
had  lost  all  their  property.  His  first  engagement  was  with 
two  Federal  sutlers,  who  treated  him  kindly.  Since  then  his 
exertions  have  been  rewarded  with  the  success  that  is  the 
just  desert  of  a  brave  patriot. 

In  1882  Captain  Metts  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  his 
sword,  which,  as  he  was  being  taken  to  the  rear  at  Gettysburg, 
he  gave  to  a  Maryland  physician,  Dr.  J.  R.  T.  Reeves,  for 
safekeeping.  The  doctor  saved  the  sword  from  capture,  and 
after  many  years'  search,  finally  discovered  its  owner,  after 
the  following  correspondence: 


306  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Chaptico,  Md.,  May  11,  1882. 

Deae  Sib: — Yours  of  recent  date  came  duly  to  hand  and  I  avail 
myself  of  the  earliest  leisure  to  acknowledge  its  receipt  and  note 
contents. 

I  have  little,  If  any  doubt,  that  you  are  the  owner  of  the  sword 
which  I  brought  with  me  from  Gettysburg  in  July,  1863,  and  it  is  a 
source  of  peculiar  and  especial  pleasure  to  me,  that  I  shall  be  able, 
after  a  lapse  of  very  nearly  nineteen  years,  to  restore  it  to  its  right- 
ful owner,  in  the  same  condition  in  which  I  received  it  from  the 
wounded  lieutenant  (shot  through  the  lungs)  from  North  Carolina, 
who,  believing  he  was  going  to  die  and  not  wishing  his  "trusty 
blade"  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Yankees,  begged  me  to  take  it 
with  me  and  keep  them  from  getting  it. 

It  would  be  very  interesting  to  you,  I  am  sure,  to  hear  how  I  had 
to  contrive  to  conceal  it  until  I  left  Gettysburg,  and  the  narrow 
escape  I  had  in  passing  the  guard  with  it  to  get  on  the  cars  for 
Baltimore;  but  the  story  is  too  long  for  my  present  sheet,  and  I 
must  content  myself  with  stating  that  I  have  no  desire  to  retain 
the  sword,  and  if,  when  you  receive  it,  you  should  find  it  not  to  be 
yours,  you  will  be  more  likely  to  find  an  owner  for  it  than  I  will, 
as  it  certainly  belongs  to  somebody  who  hailed  from  North  Carolina 
in  '63. 

I  have  delivered  it  to  Mr.  Glenn,  of  the  S.  M.  R.  R.,  with  the 
request  that  he  forward  it  to  you  as  speedily  as  possible;  and  I 
would  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  on  its  arrival. 

Very  truly  yours, 

J.  R.  T.  Reeves. 

Chablotte  Hall,  Md.,  May  11,  1882. 
Capt.  Jas.  I.  Metts,  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

My  Dear  Sib:— It  is  with  the  greatest  of  pleasure  that  I  forward, 
per  express,  your  sword,  which  has  been  in  the  hands  of  a  stranger 
for  twenty  long  years.  I  know  that  it  will  be  received  by  you  and 
yours  with  the  greatest  joy,  for  I  know  how  my  family  love  and 
revere  the  scabbardless  blade  of  my  poor  father,  who  was  killed  at 
Boonsboro. 

When  Dr.  Reeves  first  informed  me  that  he  had  the  sword  of  a 
North  Carolinian,  who,  even  when  he  thought  he  was  dying,  was  so 
careful  of  his  own,  and  his  State's  honor,  as  not  to  wish  that  the 
sword  of  one  of  her  sons  should  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
I  resolved  at  once  that,  if  possible,  I  would  find  the  owner  and 
return  it  to  him,  and  should  he  be  dead,  which  I  thought  from  Dr. 
Reeves's  account,  more  than  probable,  I  would  restore  it  to  his 
family. 

I  am  a  "Tar  Heel"  myself,  and  were  you  in  my  place,  you  would 
be  gratified  as  I  am,  to  hear,  daily,  the  praise  bestowed  by  both 
friends  and  foes,  upon  the  bravery  and  endurance  of  the  gallant 
sons  of  North  Carolina  in  our  unfortunate  Civil  War. 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  307 

In  conclusion,  I  will  state  that  Dr.  Reeves  has  shown  a  most  praise- 
worthy desire,  all  through,  to  restore  the  sword  to  its  rightful  owner. 
Hoping  you  will  receive  it  in  good  order,  and  that  you  will  let  me 
know,  at  once,  of  its  arrival. 

I  remain  yours,  very  respectfully,  E.  T.  B.  Glenn. 

Dr.  James  A.  Miller,  surgeon  of  the  Eighth  (Eighteenth) 
Regiment,  became  surgeon  of  the  brigade  and  then  division 
surgeon,  and  finally  district  surgeon  of  the  district  of  the 
Cape  Fear. 

Capt.  John  Miller,  a  son  of  Mr.  Tom  Miller,  commanded 
A.  D.  Moore's  battery  after  Moore's  promotion  to  the  colo- 
nelcy of  the  Sixty-sLxth  Regiment.     He  moved  to  California. 

Capt.  Julius  Walker  Moore  was  instrumental  in  raising 
a  company  of  cavalry  early  in  the  war.  Later,  he  became  cap- 
tain of  a  cavalry  company  raised  chiefly  in  Onslow  County, 
called  the  Humphrey  Troop,  and  borne  on  the  roll  as  Com- 
pany H,  Forty-first  Regiment.  Captain  Moore,  along  with  a 
considerable  number  of  his  company,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  and  was  confined  in  Fort  Delaware,  and  on  James 
Island  until  the  end  of  the  war,  when  he  returned  home 
broken  in  health  and  fortune,  and  he  soon  died  at  Charlotte. 

James  Osborne  Moore  became  a  purser  in  the  Confederate 
Navy.  After  the  war  he  became  a  civil  engineer.  He  died 
at  Charlotte.  A  still  younger  brother,  Alexander  Duncan 
Moore,  enlisted  in  Company  I,  Eighth  Regiment  of  Volun- 
teers, and  was  sergeant  major  of  the  regiment  when  he  fell  on 
one  of  the  battlefields  in  Virginia.  He  was  a  bright  young 
man,  of  the  finest  characteristics,  and  was  imbued  with  the 
noble  spirit  of  his  Revolutionary  forefathers. 

Chas.  D.  Myers  was  one  of  the  members  of  the  Wilming- 
ton Light  Infantry  of  ante-bellum  times,  and  served  in  that 
company  until  he  was  made  adjutant  of  the  Eighth  Regiment, 
North  Carolina  Troops.  He  subsequently  served  upon  the 
staff  of  Gen.  Samuel  G.  French,  who  commanded  the  Con- 
federate forces  in  the  vicinity  of  Wilmington,  with  the  rank 
of  captain. 


21 


308  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Kenneth  McKenzie  Murchison^  was  born  near  Fayette- 
ville,  ISTorth  Carolina,  February  18,  1831,  the  son  of  Duncan 
Murchison,  who  was  born  in  Manchester,  Cumberland 
County,  North  Carolina,  May  20,  1801,  and  the  gi-andson  of 
Kenneth  McKenzie  Murchison,  for  whom  he  was  named,  and 
who  came  to  this  country  from  Scotland  in  1773.  Duncan 
Murchison  became  prominent  in  the  planting  and  manufac- 
ture of  cotton.  The  eldest  son,  John  R.,  enlisted  in  the  war 
in  the  Eighth  Eegiment,  was  promoted  to  be  colonel,  and  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  June  1,  1864.  A 
younger  son,  David  Eeid,  served  in  the  Seventeenth  and 
Fifty-fourth  Eegiments  and  was  later  inspector  general  of  the 
Commissary  Department  of  the  State. 

Colonel  Murchison,  the  second  son  of  Duncan,  was  gradu- 
ated at  Chapel  Hill  in  1853,  after  which  he  was  engaged  in 
business  pursuits  in  New  York  City  and  Wilmington  until 
the  spring  of  1861,  when  he  disposed  of  his  business  in  the 
North,  assisted  in  the  organization  of  a  company  at  Fay- 
etteville,  and  entered  the  service  as  second  lieutenant.  He 
commanded  Company  C,  of  the  Eighth  Eegiment,  which  was 
captured  at  Eoanoke  Island,  a  disaster  which  Lieutenant  Mur- 
chison escaped  by  his  fortunate  absence  on  military  detail. 
He  then  organized  another  company  in  Cumberland  County, 
which  was  assigned  to  the  Fifty-fourth  Eegiment,  with  him- 
self as  captain.  Upon  the  organization  of  the  regiment  he  was 
elected  major,  was  soon  promoted  to  lieutenant  colonel,  and 
after  the  death  of  Col.  J.  C.  S.  McDowell,  at  Fredericks- 
burg, became  the  colonel  of  the  regiment.  He  was  especially 
commended  for  gallant  service  at  Fredericksburg  by  Gen. 
E.  M.  Law,  commander  of  his  brigade.  He  commanded  his 
regiment  at  Chancellorsville  and  in  the  battle  of  Winchester 
against  Milroy.  Subsequently  he  was  ordered  to  convey  the 
prisoners  taken  on  that  occasion  to  Eichmond,  after  which  he 
returned  to  Winchester  and  served  in  guarding  the  wagon 
trains  of  Lee's  army.  On  July  6th,  in  command  of  his  regi- 
ment, he  gallantly  repulsed  the  enemy's  advance  on  Williams- 

>Sketch  by  Col.  Alfred  M.  Waddell  in  the  Biographical  History  of 
North  Carolina. 


TEE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  309 

port.  He  served  in  Hoke's  brigade  during  the  subsequent  op- 
erations in  Virginia,  and  when  the  brigade  was  cut  off  by  the 
enemy  at  Rappahannock  Station,  November  7,  1863,  he  was 
among  those  captured.  He  was  held  a  prisoner  of  war  at  John- 
sons Island,  Lake  Erie,  from  that  time  until  July,  1865,  an 
imprisonment  of  twenty  months.  Upon  his  release  he  resumed 
business  in  New  York,  and  formed  a  brief  partnership  under 
the  firm  name  of  Murray  &  Murchison,  but  dissolved  it  in 
June,  1866,  and  established  the  firm  of  Murchison  &  Com- 
pany, the  members  of  the  firm  being  himself,  his  brother, 
David  R.  Murchison,  George  W.  Williams,  of  Wilmington, 
and  John  D.  Williams,  of  Fayetteville.  This  firm  did  a  very 
large  and  profitable  business  for  some  years,  the  New  York 
house  having  been  managed  by  Colonel  Murchison,  under  the 
name  of  Murchison  &  Company.  The  Wilmington  house  was 
known  as  Williams  &  Murchison,  and  the  Fayetteville  con- 
nection was  known  as  John  D.  Williams  &  Company.  His 
brother,  David  R.  Murchison,  of  the  Wilmington  house,  who 
had  served  throughout  the  war,  was  a  man  of  extraordinary 
business  sagacity,  which  was  made  manifest  about  the  year 
1880,  when,  after  being  appointed  receiver  of  the  Carolina 
Central  Railway,  he  startled  the  community  by  buying  out 
the  whole  road,  and  conducted  it  successfully  until  his  health 
began  to  fail,  when  he  sold  it  at  a  profit,  and  not  long  after- 
wards died. 

Colonel  Murchison  lived  in  New  York  after  the  war,  but 
generally  spent  the  winter  in  North  Carolina.  In  the  year 
1880  he  bought  the  old  historic  plantation  called  "Orton," 
the  family  seat  of  ''King"  Roger  Moore,  situated  about  six- 
teen miles  below  Wilmington,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Cape 
Fear,  and  the  southernmost  of  all  the  old  rice  plantations  on 
that  river,  and  he  expended  a  large  amount  of  money  in  re- 
storing it  to  its  former  condition,  and  improving  it  in  various 
ways  to  satisfy  his  taste.  Within  its  boundary  was  the  colo- 
nial parish  church  and  churchyard  of  St.  Philip's,  and  this  in- 
teresting ruin  with  its  consecrated  grounds  was  conveyed  in 
fee  simple  by  Colonel  Murchison  and  his  brother,  David  R. 


310  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Mnrchison,  to  the  Diocese  of  North  Carolina.  It  is  now 
carefully  preserved  by  the  North  Carolina  Society  of  Colonial 
Dames  of  America.  Orton  has  always  been  a  paradise  for 
sportsmen,  and  the  Colonel  was  very  fond  of  hunting.  It 
was  his  custom  to  bring  some  of  his  friends  down  from  the 
North  every  winter,  and  give  them  the  opportunity  to  enjoy 
the  old-time  hospitality,  which  he  dispensed  with  a  lavish 
hand.  It  was  here  that  those  who  loved  him  best  and  who 
were  loved  by  him  spent  their  happiest  days  in  the  full  man- 
hood and  evening  of  his  successful  life.  The  restful  seclusion 
of  this  grandest  of  all  colonial  homes,  with  its  broad  acres  and 
primeval  forests,  was  most  grateful  to  him  and  to  his  intimate 
associates  after  the  storm  and  stress  of  war  and  the  subsequent 
struggles  of  business  life.  It  was  here  that  the  austerity  of 
worldly  contact  was  relaxed  and  the  manifold  humanities  of 
a  gentle,  kindly  life  unfolded.  He  never  spoke  of  his  own 
exploits,  nor  did  he  willingly  recall  the  horrors  of  the  four 
years'  war.  He  loved  to  roam  the  woods  with  his  faithful 
dogs,  to  linger  for  hours  in  the  secluded  sanctuary  of  the  game 
he  sought  so  eagerly,  and  the  sight  of  his  triumphant  return 
from  an  exciting  chase,  with  Eeynard  at  the  saddle  bow,  sur- 
rounded by  his  yelping  pack  of  English  hounds,  would  rouse 
the  dullest  of  his  guests  to  exclamations  of  delight. 

Colonel  Murchison  was  also  the  joint  owner  with  his 
brother  David  of  the  celebrated  Caney  River  hunting  pre- 
serves, in  the  wildest  parts  of  the  mountains  of  North  Caro- 
lina, where  they  spent  the  summers  of  several  happy  years 
upon  the  fourteen  miles  of  trout  streams  of  icy  waters. 
Within  this  splendid  domain  is  some  of  the  most  picturesque 
of  American  mountain  scenery,  including  Mount  Mitchell 
and  the  neighboring  peaks.  It  is  the  scene  of  big  Tom  Wil- 
son's hunting  and  trapping  exploits,  and  Wilson  still  sur- 
vives as  the  custodian  of  the  magnificent  forest  and  stream, 
to  tell  the  curious  stranger  in  his  own  peculiar  way  how 
he  found  the  body  of  the  great  naturalist  whose  name  Mount 
Mitchell  bears. 

Colonel  Murchison's  striking  personality  was  likened  by 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  311 

those  who  knew  him  to  that  of  the  great  German  chancellor, 
Prince  Bismarck,  in  his  younger  years.  His  commanding 
figure  and  uncompromising  expression,  which  characterized 
his  outward  life,  suggested  a  military  training  beyond  that  of 
his  war  experience,  and  this  was  in  strange  contrast  to  his 
inner  life,  a  knowledge  of  which  disclosed  a  sympathetic  ten- 
derness for  all  suffering  or  afflicted  humanity.  He  preferred 
and  practiced  the  simple  life ;  his  wants  were  few  and  easily 
supplied.  A  notable  characteristic  was  his  exceeding  devo- 
tion to  his  five  surviving  children ;  he  was  proud  of  them  and 
of  their  loyal  love  to  him,  and  he  made  them  his  constant 
companions.  He  gave  to  worthy  charities  with  a  liberal  and 
unostentatious  hand.  His  patriotic  spirit  responded  quickly 
to  every  public  emergency,  and  his  local  pride  was  manifested 
in  the  building  and  equipment,  at  a  great  expense,  of  "The 
Orton,"  when  a  good  hotel  was  needed  in  Wilmington,  and 
when  no  one  else  would  venture  the  investment. 

During  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  honored  life,  Colonel 
Murchison  gradually  withdrew  from  the  activities  of  strenu- 
ous business  cares,  and  with  the  first  frosts  of  autumn  re- 
sumed control  at  Orton  Plantation.  He  left  it  in  June  of 
1904  in  the  vigor  and  spirits  of  abounding  health,  to  meet, 
a  few  days  later,  the  sudden  call  of  the  Messenger  of  Death, 
whom  he  had  never  feared.  So  lived  and  died  a  man  of 
whom  it  may  be  said,  "We  ne'er  shall  see  his  like  again." 
He  was  an  example  of  splendid  physical  manhood,  of  broad 
experience,  of  unyielding  integrity,  pure  in  heart  and  in 
speech,  with  the  native  modesty  of  a  woman  and  the  courage 
of  a  lion.  He  was  especially  sympathetic  and  generous  to  his 
negro  servitors,  who  regarded  him  with  loving  veneration. 

Another  one  of  the  long  line  of  proprietors  from  the  days 
of  "King"  Roger  Moore  has  crossed  "over  the  river  to  rest 
under  the  shade  of  the  trees,"  where  the  soft  South  breezes, 
which  brought  from  their  island  home  the  first  Barbadian 
settlers,  bring  to  the  listening  ear  the  murmured  miserere  of 
the  sea. 

David  Eeid  Murchison^  was  born  at  Holly  Hill,  Manches- 


iSketch  by  Maj.  C.  M.  Stedman. 


312  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

ter,  'N.  C,  December  5,  1837.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days  at 
Holly  Hill  and  received  his  early  education  in  Cumberland 
County.  Later,  he  was  a  student  at  the  University  of  Vir- 
ginia. In  1860  he  commenced  his  business  career  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Eli  Murray  &  Co.,  of  Wilmington,  N.  C, 
which  was  interrupted  in  1861  by  the  commencement  of  the 
War  between  the  States.  He  enlisted  at  once  in  the  Seventh 
North  Carolina  Regiment  and  remained  with  that  command 
one  year,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Fifty-fourth  North 
Carolina  Regiment  and  assigned  to  duty  with  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain. With  this  regiment  he  saw  active  service  and  his  conduct 
always  reflected  honor  and  credit  upon  him  as  a  brave  and 
efficient  officer.  He  was  taken  from  the  Fifty-fourth  North 
Carolina  Regiment  and  made  inspector  general  of  the  Com- 
missary Department  of  North  Carolina,  having  been  ap- 
pointed to  this  position  by  President  Davis  on  account  of  his 
executive  ability,  which  was  then,  despite  his  early  age,  rec- 
ognized as  of  a  very  high  order.  The  change  from  active 
service  to  his  new  duties  was  very  distasteful  to  him  and 
against  his  wishes.  Brave  himself,  and  born  of  heroic  blood, 
with  a  firmness  and  fortitude  which  faltered  in  no  crisis,  he 
had  an  aptitude  for  war,  and  doubtless  would  have  risen 
high  in  the  profession  of  arms  had  he  been  allowed  to  see 
active  service  in  the  field  to  the  close  of  the  war,  as  was 
his  wish  and  desire.  One  of  his  chief  characteristics,  how- 
ever, was  a  high  sense  of  duty,  which  always  prompted  him 
to  do  whatever  work  was  before  him  as  best  he  knew  how.  He 
filled  the  position  to  which  he  was  assigned  until  the  close 
of  the  war  with  great  credit  to  himself  and  benefit  to  the 
soldiers  of  North  Carolina.  His  papers  for  advancement  to 
the  grade  of  major  were  prepared  but  were  not  executed  be- 
cause of  the  close  of  hostilities. 

He  was  a  singularly  brave  man,  devoid  of  fear.  Cool  and 
self-reliant  under  all  circumstances,  he  gave  confidence  and 
strength  to  the  weak  and  timid.  He  was  generous,  full  of 
sympathy  and  of  kindness  to  the  poor  and  needy,  to  whom  he 


TEE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  313 

gave  with  an  open  and  liberal  band.  He  was  a  sincere  man, 
abhorring  deception  and  hypocrisy  and  looking  with  scorn 
upon  all  that  was  base  and  mean.  He  died  in  'Rew  York, 
where  he  had  gone  for  medical  treatment,  February  22,  1882. 
He  was  in  the  full  meridian  of  his  intellectual  power  and  his 
nobility  of  mind  and  heart  was  never  more  clearly  manifested 
than  in  his  last  days.  He  went  to  his  rest,  his  fortitude  un- 
shaken by  long-continued  and  severe  suffering,  his  chief  de- 
sire to  give  the  least  possible  pain  and  trouble  to  others; 
solicitous  not  for  himself  but  for  the  happiness  of  those  he 
loved.  His  gentleness  and  self-abnegation  were  as  beautiful 
as  his  iron  nerve  was  firm  and  unyielding.  North  Carolina 
has  furnished  to  the  world  a  race  of  men  who  by  their  great 
qualities  have  shed  lustre  upon  the  State  which  gave  them 
birth.  In  the  elements  of  character  which  constitute  true 
greatness,  courage,  honor,  truth,  fidelity,  unselfish  love  of 
country  and  humanity,  Capt.  David  Reid  Murchison  will 
rank  with  the  best  and  noblest  of  her  citizens. 

Col.  John  R.  Murchison,  the  oldest  of  the  sons  of  Duncan 
Murchison,  had  a  career  brilliant  with  heroic  deeds  and  per- 
sonal sacrifice.  Beloved  at  home  by  his  fellow  countrymen 
and  upon  the  field  by  his  devoted  followers,  as  colonel  of  the 
Eighth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  Clingman's  brigade,  Hoke's 
division,  he  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Hatteras  Inlet  and 
Neuse  Bridge,  and  after  camping  for  two  months  at  Camp 
Ashe,  Old  Topsail  Sound,  he  won  distinction  at  Morris  Is- 
land, and  fought  so  bravely  at  Plymouth  and  Drewry's  Bluff, 
that  he  was  recommended  for  honors,  and  was  promoted  to  be 
brigadier  general  a  few  hours  before  his  untimely  death. 
In  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor,  while  personally  leading  a 
second  charge  of  his  regiment,  he  was  mortally  wounded  and 
fell  within  the  enemy's  lines.  This  final  sacrifice  of  his 
noble  life  was  marked  by  an  armistice  between  General  Grant 
and  General  Lee,  during  which  several  officers  and  men  of 
the  Eighth  Regiment,  seeking  the  body  of  their  beloved  com- 
mander, were,  through  a  misunderstanding  by  General  Grant, 
made  prisoners  and  sent  to  the  rear  of  the  Federal  Army, 


314  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

and  the  body  of  Colonel  Murchison  was  never  recovered. 
The  official  correspondence  on  that  occasion  is  as  follows. 

Cold  Hakbor,  Va.,  June  7,  1864 — 10:30  a.  m. 
General  R.  E.  Lee, 

Comdg.  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 

I  regret  that  your  note  of  7  p.  m.  yesterday  should  have  been 
received  at  the  nearest  corps  headquarters  to  where  it  was  delivered 
after  the  hour  that  had  been  given  for  the  removal  of  the  dead  and 
wounded  had  expired.  10:45  p.  m.  was  the  hour  at  which  it  was 
received  at  corps  headquarters,  and  between  11  and  12  it  reached 
my  headquarters.  As  a  consequence,  it  was  not  understood  by  the 
troops  of  this  army  that  there  was  a  cessation  of  hostilities  for  the 
purpose  of  collecting  the  dead  and  wounded,  and  none  were  collected. 
Two  officers  and  six  men  of  the  Eighth  and  Twenty-fifth  North 
Carolina  Regiments,  who  were  out  in  search  of  the  bodies  of  officers 
of  their  respective  regiments,  were  captured  and  brought  into  our 
lines,  owing  to  this  want  of  understanding.  I  regret  this,  but  will 
state  that  as  soon  as  I  learned  the  fact,  I  directed  that  they  should 
not  be  held  as  prisoners,  but  must  be  returned  to  their  comrades. 
These  officers  and  men  having  been  carelessly  brought  through  our 
lines  to  the  rear,  I  have  not  determined  whether  they  will  be  sent 
back  the  way  they  came  or  whether  they  will  be  sent  by  some  other 
route. 

Regretting  that  all  my  efforts  for  alleviating  the  sufferings  of 
wounded  men  left  upon  the  battlefield  have  been  rendered  nugatory, 
I  remain,  &c.,  U.  S.  Grant, 

Lieutenant  General. 

Headquarters  Army  of  Northern  Virginl^, 
Lieut.  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  ^^^^^  7,  1864-2  p.  m. 

Commanding  U.  8.  Armies. 

General: — Your  note  of  10:30  a.  m.,  today  has  just  been  received. 
I  regret  that  my  letter  to  you  of  7  p.  m.,  yesterday  should  have  been 
too  late  in  reaching  you  to  effect  the  removal  of  the  wounded. 

I  am  willing,  if  you  desire  it,  to  devote  the  hours  between  6  and  8 
this  afternoon  to  accomplish  that  object  upon  the  terms  and  condi- 
tions as  set  forth  in  my  letter  of  7  p.  m.,  yesterday.  If  this  will 
answer  your  purpose,  and  you  will  send  parties  from  your  lines  at 
the  hour  designated  with  white  flags,  I  will  direct  that  they  be 
recognized  and  be  permitted  to  collect  the  dead  and  wounded. 

I  will  also  notify  the  officers  on  my  lines  that  they  will  be  per- 
mitted to  collect  any  of  our  men  that  may  be  on  the  field.  I  request 
you  will  notify  me  as  soon  as  practicable  if  this  arrangement  is 
agreeable  to  you.  Lieutenant  McAllister,  Corporal  Martin,  and  two 
privates  of  the  Eighth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  and  Lieutenant 
Hartman,  Corpl.  T.  Kinlaw,  and  privates  Bass  and  Grey  were  sent 
last  night,  between  the  hours  of  8  and  10  p.  m.,  for  the  purpose  of 


THE  ^YAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  315 

recovering  the  body  of  Colonel  Murchison,  and  as  they  have  not 
returned,  I  presume  they  are  the  men  mentioned  in  your  letter.  I 
request  that  they  be  returned  to  our  lines. 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  E.  Lee, 
General. 

June  7,  1864. 
Referred    to    General    G.    G.    Meade,    commanding   Army    of    the 
Potomac. 

I  will  notify  General  Lee  that  hostilities  will  cease  from  6  to  8  for 
the  purposes  mentioned.  You  may  send  the  officers  and  men  referred 
to  as  you  deem  best.    Please  return  this.  U.  S.  Grant, 

Lieutenant  General. 

Cold  Haebok,  Va.,  June  7,  1864—5:30  p.  m. 
General  R.  E.  Lee, 

Commanding  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 
Your  note  of  this  date  just  received.  It  will  be  impossible  for  me 
to  communicate  the  fact  of  the  truce  by  the  hour  named  by  you  (6  p. 
m.)  but  I  will  avail  myself  of  your  offer  at  the  earliest  possible  mo- 
ment, which  I  hope  will  not  be  much  after  that  hour.  The  officers 
and  men  taken  last  evening  are  the  same  mentioned  in  your  note 
and  will  be  returned.  U.  S.  Grant, 

Lieutenant  General. 

Commodore  W.  T.  Muse  was  an  officer  in  the  IST.  C.  ITavy. 
The  State  of  ISTorth  Carolina,  immediately  after  the  adop- 
tion of  the  ordinance  of  secession,  began  the  defense  of  her 
inland  sounds  bj  the  construction  of  forts  at  Hatteras  and 
Ocracoke  Inlets  and  by  the  purchase  of  several  small  steamers, 
which  were  converted  into  gimboats.  Those  of  her  sons  who 
were  in  the  United  States  l^avj  tendered  their  resignations 
and  placed  their  services  at  the  disposal  of  their  native  State; 
prominent  among  them  being  William  T.  Muse,  who  was 
ordered  by  the  Naval  and  Military  Board,  of  which  Warren 
Winslow  was  secretary,  to  Norfolk,  to  take  charge  of,  and 
fit  out,  as  gunboats  at  the  navy  yard  at  Norfolk  the  steamers 
purchased  by  the  State.  Commander  W.  T.  Muse  sailed 
from  Norfolk,  August  2,  1861,  with  the  Ellis,  arriving  off 
Ocracoke  Inlet  the  4th.  North  Carolina's  naval  force  con- 
sisted of  seven  vessels,  but  she  sold  them  to  the  Confederate 
Navy  in  the  fall  of  1861,  and  her  naval  officers  were  then 
transferred  to  the  Confederacy. 


316  GAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

A.  W.  Newkirk  was  commissioned  as  captain  of  Company 
A  (originally  known  as  the  ''Rebel  Rangers"),  New  Hanover 
County,  Forty-first  Regiment,  the  19th  of  October,  1861.  A 
brilliant  exploit  performed  by  the  ''Rebel  Rangers"  is  re- 
ported by  Gen.  W.  H.  C.  Whiting,  commanding  the  District 
of  Wilmington.  He  says  that  in  November,  1862,  Captain 
Newkirk's  cavalry  and  Captain  Adams  with  a  section  of  a 
field  battery,  captured  a  steam  gunboat  of  the  enemy  on  New 
River.  Her  crew  escaped,  but  her  armament,  ammunition, 
and  small  arms  were  captured. 

Capt.  William  Harris  Northrop,  a  prominent  business 
man  of  Wilmington,  who  served  in  the  Confederate  cause 
in  various  capacities  throughout  the  war,  was  born  in  that 
city  in  1836,  and  there  reared  and  educated.  In  1855  he 
became  a  member  of  the  Wilmington  Light  Infantry,  with 
which  he  was  on  duty  before  the  secession  of  the  State  at 
Fort  Caswell,  and  later  at  Fort  Fisher.  In  June,  1865,  he 
was  commissioned  lieutenant  and  assigned  to  the  Third 
North  Carolina,  then  stationed  at  Aquia  Creek,  on  the  Poto- 
mac. He  served  in  the  line  about  eighteen  months,  and  was 
then  commissioned  captain  quartermaster.  After  six  months 
of  this  duty  with  his  regiment,  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Second  Corps,  Engineer  Troops,  and  stationed  at  Wilmington 
and  vicinity.  After  the  evacuation  of  that  city  he  was  at- 
tached to  the  staff  of  General  Bragg  until  the  surrender. 
Among  the  engagements  in  which  he  participated  were  Aquia 
Creek  on  the  Potomac,  the  Seven  Days'  Battles  before  Rich- 
mond, Frederick  City,  Boonsboro,  Sharpsburg,  and  Benton- 
ville.  Both  as  a  company  officer  and  as  a  staff  officer,  his 
service  was  marked  by  bravery  and  entire  devotion  to  the 
cause.  After  the  close  of  hostilities  Captain  Northrop  con- 
stantly resided  at  Wilmington. 

Capt.  W.  P.  Oldham  was  captain  of  Company  K,  Forty- 
fourth  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops.  At  the  battle  of 
Reams  Station  Captain  Oldham  sighted  one  of  the  guns  re- 
peatedly, and  when  he  saw  the  effects  of  his  accurate  aim 
upon  the  masses  in  front,  he  was  so  jubilant  that  General 


THE  ^YAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  317 

MacKae,  with  his  usual  quiet  humor,  remarked:  "Oldham 
thinks  he  is  at  a  ball  in  Petersburg." 

Kev.  George  Patterson,  D.D.,  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  was  commissioned  the  30th  day  of  December,  1862, 
chaplain  of  the  Third  Eegiment.  He  was  faithful  to  the 
last.  He  preached  in  Wilmington  for  years  after  the  war, 
and  afterwards  in  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he  recently  died. 

One  of  our  venerable  survivors  of  war  times  who  retains 
the  respect  and  admiration  of  all  who  know  him,  and  they 
are  legion,  is  Richard  P.  Paddison,  of  Point  Caswell,  whose 
military  record  is  told  in  his  own  words.  A  chapter  of  his 
humorous  experiences  can,  appropriately,  be  added,  as  the 
tragedies  of  these  fearful  years  of  bloodshed  were  not  with- 
out a  comic  point  of  view. 

He  tells  us  that  in  the  month  of  March,  1861,  "this  part  of 
itliTorth  Carolina  was  wild  with  excitement  and  rumors  of  war, 
and  a  public  meeting  was  called  at  Harrell's  Store,  in  Samp- 
son County,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  military  company 
to  be  tendered  the  Governor.  In  a  short  time  an  organization 
was  effected,  and  a  man  named  Taylor  was  elected  captain. 
At  the  next  meeting  they  voted  to  call  the  company  the  'Wild 
Cat  Minute  Men.'  Next  the  question  came  up  as  to  where 
the  company  should  go.  After  considerable  talk  it  was  voted 
that  the  company  should  remain  around  Wild  Cat  as  a  home 
protection.  There  were  a  number  of  us,  however,  who  did 
not  take  to  the  Wild  Cat  idea,  and  quietly  withdrew  and 
marched  to  Clinton,  where  a  company  was  being  organized 
by  Capt.  Frank  Faison,  called  the  Sampson  Rangers,  com- 
posed of  the  flower  of  the  young  men  of  the  county.  I  joined 
as  a  private  in  this  company.  We  had  a  good  time  drilling 
and  eating  the  best  the  country  could  afford,  and  every  fellow 
was  a  hero  in  the  eye  of  some  pretty  maiden.  But  this  ease- 
ment was  suddenly  cut  short  by  orders  to  go  with  utmost  dis- 
patch to  Fort  Johnston.  The  whole  town  was  in  excitement. 
We  were  ordered  to  get  in  marching  order,  and  to  my  dying 
day  I  shall  remember  that  scene — mothers,  wives,  sisters,  and 
sweethearts  all  cheering  and  encouraging  their  loved  ones  to 


318  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

go  forth  and  do  their  duty ;  such  love  of  country  could  only  be 
shown  by  true  Southern  womanhood.  After  a  good  dinner 
and  a  sweet  farewell  under  the  inspiring  strains  by  the  band 
of  'The  girl  I  left  behind  me,'  we  took  up  our  march  to 
Warsaw,  where  we  boarded  the  train  for  Wilmington  and 
arrived  before  night.  We  were  met  by  the  officials  and 
marched  up  Front  Street  to  Princess  and  Second ;  here  we 
halted  and  the  fun  began.  On  the  northeast  corner  stood  a 
large  brick  house  built  for  a  negro  jail  and  operated,  I  think, 
by  a  Mr.  Southerland.  We  were  informed  that  this  was  to 
be  our  quarters  for  the  night.  iNow  picture  in  your  mind, 
if  you  can,  a  hundred  and  twenty  wealthy  young  men,  most 
of  them  Chapel  Hill  and  high  school  boys,  whose  combined 
wealth  could  purchase  half  the  city  of  Wilmington,  being 
forced  to  sleep  in  a  negro  jail.  We  marched  into  the  house 
and  deposited  our  luggage — which  in  after  years  would  have 
been  sufficient  for  Stonewall  Jackson's  army.  The  rumbling 
noise  of  discord  and  discontent  rose  rapidly.  We  held  a  coun- 
cil of  war  and  informed  our  officers  that  we  would  not  submit 
to  quarters  in  that  house.  We  were  to  take  the  steamer  next 
morning  at  nine  o'clock  for  Fort  Johnston.  This  was  rather 
a  critical  situation  for  both  officers  and  men.  At  this  junc- 
ture Judge  A.  A.  McKoy,  who  was  a  private,  said  he  would 
stand  sponsor  for  the  boys  to  be  on  hand  next  morning  on 
time.  This  was  accepted,  and  there  was  a  hot  time  in  the 
old  town  that  night.  Next  morning,  promptly  on  time, 
every  man  was  present.  We  boarded  a  river  steamer,  I 
think  the  Flora  Macdonald,  and  arrived  in  good  shape  at 
our  destination,  where  we  had  a  good  time  until  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Twentieth  North  Carolina  Eegiment,  when  our 
trouble  began.  Our  captain  was  elected  lieutenant  colonel, 
and  an  order  was  issued  for  the  election  of  a  captain.  The 
candidates  were  James  D.  Holmes  and  William  S.  Devane. 
There  was  a  strong  feeling  on  both  sides  in  the  company.  The 
Devane  men,  of  whom  I  was  one,  said  we  would  not  serve 
under  Holmes.  I  cannot  remember  how  long  this  trouble 
lasted,  but  the  matter  was  carried  to  Governor  Ellis,  who 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  319 

settled  it  by  ordering  each  faction  to  send  out  recruiting 
officers  and  make  two  companies,  which  was  done.  I  was 
sent  out,  and  had  ten  recruits  in  three  or  four  days.  Both 
candidates  were  elected,  Captain  Holmes'  company  going  to 
the  Thirtieth  Eegiment ;  and  Captain  Devane's  company  was 
detached  for  quite  a  long  time  doing  service  at  Fort  Caswell 
and  Fort  Johnson.  In  1862  the  Sixty-seventh  Regiment  was 
organized,  and  Captain  Devane  was  made  lieutenant  colonel. 
About  this  time  I  was  appointed  hospital  steward  by  Jas. 
A.  Sedden,  Secretary  of  War.  I  remained  at  Fort  Johnston 
during  the  epidemic  of  yellow  fever  in  1862,  and  of  smallpox 
in  the  winter  of  the  same  year ;  after  which  I  was  transferred 
to  General  Hospital  No.  4,  Wilmington,  which  comprised 
the  Seamen's  Home  building  and  buildings  on  the  opposite 
side  of  Front  Street.  Thomas  M.  Ritenour  was  surgeon  and 
A.  E.  Wright  and  Josh  Walker,  assistant  surgeons.  This 
was  one  of  the  largest  and  best  equipped  hospitals  in  the 
State. 

"After  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher  we  had  orders  to  send  our 
sick  and  wounded  to  Fayetteville  and  Goldsboro.  By  the  aid 
of  Captain  Styron  and  his  assistant,  Mr,  I.  B.  Grainger,  who 
was  the  best  organizer  and  disciplinarian  I  ever  knew,  we 
succeeded  in  getting  all  except  thirty-two  removed  to  safety. 
These  were  so  badly  wounded  that  it  was  impossible  to  move 
them.  I  placed  these  wounded  in  ward  No.  2  with  Mrs. 
McCauslin,  matron,  in  charge.  Supplies  were  very  scarce. 
Dr.  Josh  Walker  was  the  last  one  to  leave.  He  went  out  on 
Tuesday  night,  and  Wednesday  morning  the  streets  were 
swarming  with  Federal  soldiers.  About  10  a.  m.  a  surgeon 
came  to  our  hospital  and  inquired  who  was  in  charge.  I  re- 
plied that  I  was  in  charge.  He  said:  'I  want  you  to  move 
everything  out.  I  want  this  hospital  for  our  use.'  I  replied 
that  I  had  nowhere  to  go,  and  no  way  to  move.  'You  must 
find  a  house,'  he  replied,  'and  at  once,  and  report  to  me  at 
headquarters.  I  will  furnish  you  with  transportation.' 
I  did  not  stand  on  the  order  of  my  going.  I  found  a  house  on 
Fourth  Street  near  Red  Cross,  owned  by  David  Bunting, 


320  GAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

whose  family  had  left  the  city.  I  made  the  report,  and  the 
Federal  Surgeon  General  ordered  three  ambulances.  The 
transfer  was  soon  made.  I  wish  to  state  that  we  had  courteous 
treatment  from  the  authorities,  but  of  course  we  were  very 
short  of  supplies.  The  first  genuine  treat  we  had  was  by  Mr. 
F.  W.  Foster,  who  was  acting  as  sanitary  agent.  He  drove 
up  one  morning,  came  in  and  inquired  about  the  sick,  and 
asked  if  I  would  like  to  have  some  milk  punch  for  the  men. 
I  said,  yes,  as  it  had  been  a  long  time  since  we  had  had  any 
such  luxury.  He  went  out  and  soon  returned  with  two  large 
pails  and  a  dipper,  and  personally  served  to  each  all  they 
could  stand.  This  he  continued  to  do  for  several  weeks.  On 
one  of  his  visits  he  asked  me  if  I  would  like  to  have  some 
canned  goods  for  the  hospital.  I  replied,  yes,  and  he  said, 
'The  steamer  General  Lyon  is  unloading  a  cargo  of  hospital 
supplies.  If  you  will  go  down  there  you  can  get  what  you 
want'  I  replied  that  I  had  no  way  to  get  them  and  no 
money  to  hire  with.  He  said,  'I  will  send  you  an  ambu- 
lance ;  go  down  and  get  what  you  want.'  I  said,  'Won't  you 
give  me  an  order  V  to  which  he  replied,  'No,  if  any  one  says 
anything  to  you  tell  them  Foster  sent  you.'  The  ambulance 
came.  I  didn't  want  any  help.  The  vessel  was  unloading 
near  where  Springer's  coal  yard  is  now.  We  backed  up  and 
I  began  to  select  what  I  wanted.  I  was  not  at  all  modest, 
and  thinking  that  this  would  be  the  last  haul  I  would  get  from 
'Uncle  Sam,'  I  loaded  to  the  limit.  Strange  to  say,  no  ques- 
tions were  asked,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  our  boys  fared  well 
while  things  lasted.  As  the  men  improved  they  went  home, 
and  on  the  5th  of  June  I  closed  the  doors.  The  last  hero 
had  gone  to  rebuild  his  broken  fortunes  and  I  felt  a  free  man 
once  more.  I  came  out  of  the  Army  as  I  had  entered  it — 
without  one  dollar,  but  with  a  clear  conscience,  having  per- 
formed my  duty  to  my  country  as  I  saw  it.  From  April  20th, 
1861,  to  June  5th,  1865,  I  never  had  a  furlough  or  a  day's 
absence  from  duty. 

"I  cannot  close  without  saying  a  word  about  the  splendid 
women  of  Wilmington  for  their  devotion  and  attention  to 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  321 

our  destitute  sick  and  wounded  during  those  trying  times. 
I  have  tried  to  recall  the  names  of  some  of  them,  but  cannot 
do  so.     I  fear  few,  if  any,  are  living  to-day." 

Capt.  Elisha  Porter,  of  Company  E,  Third  North  Caro- 
lina Eegiment,  served  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  up  to 
and  including  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville.  During  that 
engagement  he  penetrated  within  the  enemy's  breastworks 
and  was  bayonetted  by  a  Federal  soldier,  and  finding  that  he 
was  about  to  be  killed,  he  attempted  to  scale  the  breastworks 
and  succeeded  in  doing  so,  but  was  shot  in  the  thigh  and  ap- 
parently mortally  wounded.  After  the  battle  he  heard  the 
voice  of  a  friend,  by  whom  he  was  taken  to  the  Confederate 
field  hospital.  Dr.  Porter  survived  for  many  years  after  the 
war,  but  was  always  crippled. 

Joseph  Price  was  one  of  the  first  lieutenants  in  Company 
H,  Fortieth  Regiment,  which  was  organized  at  Bald  Head, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  the  1st  of  December, 
1863,  from  heavy  artillery  companies  already  in  the  service. 
Company  H  was  composed  principally  of  Irishmen,  and  no 
better  or  more  loyal  men  or  better  soldiers  could  be  found  in 
any  company.  Whether  work  or  fighting  was  to  be  done,  they 
were  always  ready,  and  would  go  wherever  ordered.  Lieu- 
tenant Price's  capture  of  the  United  States  steamer  Water 
Witch,  by  boarding  in  a  night  attack,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  of  the  Confederate  exploits  on  the  water.  His  mod- 
est official  report  of  this  affair  was  characteristic  of  the  man. 

Capt.  Richard  W.  Price  entered  the  Confederate  serv- 
ice in  October,  1864,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  in  the  Junior 
Reserves,  afterwards  the  Seventy-second  Regiment.  He 
served  chiefly  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  when  the  fort  fell  he  was 
captured  and  taken  a  prisoner  to  Fort  Delaware,  where  he 
remained  until  after  the  general  surrender.  When  the  Fort 
Fisher  Survivors'  Association  was  organized,  composed  of  the 
Blue  and  the  Gray,  Captain  Price  was  made  secretary,  and 
held  that  position  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Capt,  Robert  G.  Rankin  was  chairman  of  the  Safety 
Committee  before  the  outbreak  of  the  war.    At  the  beginning 


322  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

of  the  war  he  was  made  quartermaster  of  Wilmington,  and 
was  afterward  made  captain  of  the  First  Battalion  Heavy 
Artillery.  This  battalion  went  into  the  battle  of  Benton- 
ville  with  260  men  and  came  out  with  115,  every  officer  ex- 
cept two  having  been  killed,  wounded,  or  captured.  Captain 
Eankin  was  among  the  killed,  eight  balls  having  passed 
through  his  clothing. 

Capt.  John  T.  Rankin  entered  the  Confederate  Army 
as  a  private,  and  at  the  youthful  age  of  nineteen  was  made 
first  lieutenant  of  Company  D,  First  Battalion  North  Caro- 
lina Heavy  Artillery,  under  Captain  McCormick.  He  was  at 
Fort  Fisher  during  the  first  battle  and  was  highly  compli- 
mented by  General  Whiting  for  gallantry.  During  the 
second  battle  Captain  McCormick  was  killed,  and  Lieutenant 
Eankin  became  captain. 

He  fought  at  Fort  Anderson,  and  on  February  20,  1865, 
was  wounded  in  the  thigh  at  Town  Creek  and  taken  prisoner. 
He  was  treated  with  great  courtesy  by  Colonel  Eundell  of  the 
One  Hundredth  Ohio  Regiment,  and  carried  to  the  Old  Cap- 
itol Prison  at  Washington,  where  he  saw  the  crowd  and  com- 
motion caused  by  the  second  inauguration  of  President  Lin- 
coln. He  was  afterwards  sent  to  Fort  Delaware,  where  he 
remained  until  released  after  the  war. 

Maj.  James  I.  Eeilly:  General  Whiting,  in  his  report  of 
the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  says:  "Of  Major  Eeilly,  with  his 
battalion  of  the  Tenth  North  Carolina,  who  served  the  guns 
of  the  land  fort  during  the  entire  action,  I  have  to  say  he  has 
added  another  name  to  the  long  list  of  fields  on  which  he  has 
been  conspicuous  for  indomitable  pluck  and  consummate 
skill."  Colonel  Lamb,  in  his  official  report,  says:  "Major 
Eeilly,  of  the  Tenth  North  Carolina  Regiment,  discharged  his 
whole  duty.  To  the  coolness  of  Major  Reilly  we  are  indebted 
for  the  defense  of  the  land  face."  Maj.  William  J.  Saun- 
ders, Chief  of  Artillery,  says :  "I  would  beg  particularly  to 
call  attention  to  the  skill  displayed  by  that  splendid  artillerist, 
Maj.  James  Reilly,  of  the  Tenth  North  Carolina  Regiment." 

James  Reilly  was  a  sergeant  in  the  old  United  States 


TEE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  323 

Army,  and  was  in  charge  of  Fort  Johnston,  when,  on  January 
9,  1861,  it  was  hastily  occupied  by  some  ardent  Southerners 
from  Wilmington.  After  the  State  seceded  he  was  appointed 
captain  of  a  light  battery  and  won  fame  in  Virginia.  On 
September  7,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  major,  and  John  A. 
Kamsay  became  captain  of  the  company.  Major  Eeilly  was 
one  of  the  bravest  and  most  efficient  defenders  of  Fort  Fisher. 

A.  Paul  Eepiton  joined  the  Corps  of  Engineers  in  1863. 

C.  H.  Eobinson  enlisted  early  in  the  war,  having  given  up  a 
good  business  to  respond  to  the  call  of  his  adopted  State,  and 
he  became  quartermaster  sergeant  of  the  Fifty-first  Eegi- 
ment,  North  Carolina  Troops,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
throughout  the  war. 

His  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Mangum,  near  Ea- 
leigh,  September  18,  1862,  Col.  J.  V.  Jordan,  commanding, 
E.  E.  Liles,  lieutenant  colonel,  J.  A.  McKoy,  major,  W.  H. 
Battle,  surgeon,  John  W.  Cox,  quartermaster,  and  C.  H. 
Eobinson,  quartermaster  sergeant. 

Frederick  G.  Eobinson,  a  native  of  Bennington,  Vermont, 
joined  his  prominent  relatives  on  the  Cape  Fear  prior  to  the 
war  of  1861,  and,  full  of  enthusiasm  for  his  adopted  State, 
enlisted  at  the  beginning  of  hostilities  in  the  Wilmington 
Eifle  Guards,  which  became  Company  I  of  the  Eighth  Eegi- 
ment  North  Carolina  Volunteers,  and  with  it,  and  later  with 
the  Fortieth,  he  did  valiant  service  through  all  the  campaigns 
to  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  where  he  was  captured.  He  re- 
mained a  prisoner  of  war  until  after  the  general  surrender. 

The  writer,  an  intimate,  lifelong  friend,  who  admired  his 
brave  and  generous  nature,  recalls  a  characteristic  incident  in 
Sergeant  Eobinson's  military  career.  A  contemptible  com- 
rade having  behind  his  back  questioned  his  loyalty  to  the 
South  in  view  of  his  Northern  birth.  Sergeant  Eobinson 
stepped  out  of  the  ranks  and  publicly  denounced  the  base  in- 
sinuation, and  offered  to  fight  each  and  every  man  then  and 
there  who  dared  to  repeat  the  allegation. 


22 


324  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Beloved  bj  many  of  his  associates,  his  memory  is  still  cher- 
ished in  the  hearts  of  his  friends. 

Capt.  Edward  Savage  was  captain  of  Company  D,  Third 
Regiment,  a  company  raised  by  him.  In  May,  1862,  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Cowan  having  been  promoted  to  the  colonelcy 
of  the  Eighteenth  North  Carolina  Infantry,  Captain  Savage 
was  made  major.  Major  Savage  was  wounded  in  the 
battle  of  Mechanicsville.  After  the  death  of  Col.  Gaston 
Meares  at  Malvern  Hill,  Major  Savage  became  lieutenant 
colonel.  He  resigned  after  the  battles  around  Richmond  on 
account  of  continued  ill  health. 

Capt.  Henry  Savage  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Wilmington  Light  Infantry,  in  1853,  in  which  he  held  the 
rank  of  junior  second  lieutenant.  With  this  command, 
which  became  Company  G  of  the  Eighth,  later  the  Eigh- 
teenth North  Carolina  Regiment,  he  entered  the  Confederate 
service  in  April,  18G1,  and  in  June  was  promoted  to  be  cap- 
tain of  his  company.  He  served  in  Virginia,  in  the  brigade  of 
General  Branch,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Hanover 
Courthouse  and  the  Seven  Days'  Battles  before  Richmond. 
He  escaped  serious  injury  from  the  enemy's  bullets,  though 
hit  several  times ;  but  falling  a  victim  to  disease  as  the  re- 
rult  of  his  arduous  service  and  exposure,  he  was  sent  to  a 
hospital  in  Richmond,  and  a  few  days  later  allowed  to  go  to 
his  home  on  furlough.  Eour  or  five  months  afterwards,  hav- 
ing in  a  measure  recovered  strength,  he  attempted  to  rejoin 
his  regiment,  but,  suffering  a  relapse  en  route,  he  returned 
home  and  accepted  an  honorable  discharge.  In  the  early 
part  of  1863  he  was  appointed  by  President  Davis  collector 
of  customs  at  the  port  of  Wilmington  and  depositary  for  the 
Confederate  States  Treasury,  and  the  duties  of  this  position 
occupied  him  until  the  close  of  the  struggle  for  independence. 
After  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher  he  retired  to  Raleigh,  and  es- 
tablishing his  office  in  a  box  car,  moved  west  as  necessity  de- 
manded until  the  fall  of  the  government. 

Daniel  Shackelford  enlisted  with  Company  I,  Eighth 
Regiment,  and  served  in  it  for  twelve  months.    He  reenlisted 


TEE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  325 

in  the  Sixtj-first  Regiment  and  became  first  lieutenant,  and 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Fraser's  Farm.  His  brother  Theo- 
dore, who  was  in  the  same  command,  and  who  was  also  in  the 
hospital  with  him,  died  literally  of  a  broken  heart,  grieving 
because  of  the  death  of  his  brother. 

Dr.  Joseph  C.  Shepard,  of  Wilmington,  was  born  in  l!Tew 
Hanover  County  in  1840.  Early  in  the  fall  of  1861  he  en- 
listed in  the  Confederate  States  service,  and  being  commis- 
sioned assistant  surgeon,  was  assigned  to  duty  on  the  coast, 
with  Adams'  battery.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  was  transferred 
to  Fort  Fisher,  where  he  remained  through  the  first  bombard- 
ment and  the  second,  at  the  latter  being  captured  with  the 
brave  defenders.  He  was  sent  as  a  prisoner  of  war  to  Gov- 
ernors Island  and  held  there  until  early  in  March  following, 
when  he  was  returned  to  duty  in  ISTorth  Carolina  and  assigned 
to  the  hospital  at  Greensboro,  where  he  remained  until  after 
the  surrender. 

Rev.  James  A.  Smith  as  a  boy  participated  in  the  War  be- 
tween the  States,  manifesting  the  same  courage  and  energy 
which  have  characterized  his  subsequent  life.  At  the  age  of 
seventeen  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  Confederate  service 
in  Company  D,  First  ^orth  Carolina  Heavy  Artillery,  Jan- 
uary 13,  1865,  and  was  given  a  position  as  courier  for  Major 
General  Whiting.  While  serving  in  this  capacity  he  was 
with  the  troops  at  Fort  Fisher,  and  on  January  15,  1865, 
during  the  bombardment  and  assault  of  that  stronghold,  was 
wounded.  He  was  taken  prisoner  with  the  garrison  and  con- 
fined for  six  months  at  Point  Lookout,  being  released  June 
9,  1865. 

Maj.  James  Martin  Stevenson  entered  the  Army  of  the 
Confederacy  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  as  first  lieutenant  of 
a  company  raised  by  Capt.  J.  J.  Hedrick. 

Soon  after  the  seizure  of  Fort  Johnston,  Lieutenant  Steven- 
son was  ordered  to  Fort  Caswell  as  ordnance  officer,  and  while 
there  three  young  men  from  Sampson  County  raised  a  com- 
pany and  offered  him  the  captaincy,  which  he  accepted.  This 
company  was  attached  to  the   Thirty-sixth  Regiment   and 


326  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

ordered  to  Fort  Fisher,  where  Captain  Stevenson  was  made 
major  of  the  regiment.  Major  Stevenson  remained  at  Fort 
Fisher  until  he  was  ordered  to  reinforce  General  Hardee  in 
Georgia.  There  he  was  highly  complimented  for  his  cool 
bravery  and  tact  in  covering  General  Hardee's  retreat.  He 
took  with  him  to  Georgia  five  companies  from  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Regiment. 

Major  Stevenson  was  again  remanded  to  his  regiment  at 
Fort  Fisher,  where  he  arrived  just  after  the  attack  of  Decem- 
ber, 1864.  On  the  13th  of  January,  1865,  the  attack  was 
renewed.  In  the  battle  Whiting  and  Lamb  were  wounded, 
and  Major  Stevenson  was  hurled  from  the  parapet  by  the 
explosion  of  an  eleven-inch  shell.  He  fell  bleeding  in  the 
fort  below  the  battery  and  was  carried  a  prisoner  to  Fort 
Columbus,  Governors  Island,  'N.  Y.,  where  he  died.  He  did 
his  whole  duty  and  did  it  well.  Wilmington  had  no  nobler 
son. 

James  C.  Stevenson  and  Daniel  S.  Stevenson  were  worthy 
sons  of  Maj.  James  M.  Stevenson,  of  Wilmington.  Both 
enlisted  in  the  Confederate  Army  when  they  were  much  below 
the  service  age  limit.  James,  for  a  time,  was  employed  on 
the  North  Carolina  steamer  Advance;  afterwards  he  served 
in  the  field  as  a  private  in  Company  A,  Thirty-sixth  Eegi- 
ment,  North  Carolina  Troops.  He  survived  the  war,  and  was 
for  many  years  a  prominent  merchant,  a  most  estimable  citi- 
zen, and  an  active  Christian  worker.  He  died  April  13,  1907, 
lamented  by  the  community. 

Daniel  Stevenson  was  an  efficient  member  of  the  Con- 
federate States  Signal  Corps,  and  was  detailed  for  active 
service  with  the  blockade  runners,  on  several  of  which  he 
served  with  great  coolness  under  fire.  He  was  captured  in 
1865  off  Galveston  and  imprisoned  until  the  war  ended.  His 
last  exploit  was  running  through  the  blockade  in  daylight  in 
the  steamer  Little  Hattie,  which  drew  the  fire  of  the  whole 
fleet,  but  anchored  comparatively  uninjured  under  the  guns  of 
Fort  Fisher.  Dan  Stevenson  was  a  young  man  of  most  amia- 
ble, generous  impulses,  and  was  greatly  esteemed  by  his  asso- 


THE  ^YAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  327 

ciates  for  many  excellent  qualities.    He  died  shortly  after  the 
termination  of  the  war. 

Capt.  William  M.  Stevenson  was  elected  one  of  the  lieu- 
tenants of  Company  B,  Sixty-first  Regiment  of  North  Caro- 
lina Troops,  of  which  James  D.  Eadcliffe  of  Wilmington  was 
colonel  and  William  S.  Devane  lieutenant-colonel  and  subse- 
quently colonel.  At  the  battle  of  Fort  Harrison,  in  Virginia, 
September,  1864,  while  in  command  of  the  company,  to 
which  position  he  had  succeeded,  he  was  captured  and  taken 
to  Fort  Delaware,  where  he  was  confined  until  the  surrender. 

Captain  Stevenson's  service  in  the  field  was  continuous 
from  his  enlistment  in  1861  up  to  the  last  of  1864,  including 
the  action  at  Fort  Hatteras  and  the  campaigns  of  the  Army 
of  !N'orthern  Virginia. 

Rev.  Dr.  James  Menzies  Sprunt  was  chaplain  of  the  Twen- 
tieth Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops,  commanded  by  Col. 
Iverson,  in  Garland's  brigade,  D.  H.  Hill's  division,  under 
Stonewall  Jackson.  General  Hill,  who  greatly  admired  him, 
said  he  was  one  of  the  few  chaplains  who  was  always  at  the 
front  on  the  battlefield.  He  served  throughout  the  war, 
revered  by  the  men  of  his  regiment,  and  beloved  at  his  home, 
in  Duplin  County,  throughout  his  honored  life. 

Maj.  Matthew  P.  Taylor  was  major  of  the  Sixth  Battalion 
Armory  Guards.  The  battalion  was  as  well  drilled  and  as 
thoroughly  disciplined  as  any  command  in  the  Confederate 
service. 

Capt.  John  F.  S.  Van  Bokkelen  left  Harvard  College  in 
1861  and  returned  to  Wilmington,  where  he  aided  in  raising 
a  company  which  was  assigned  to  the  Third  North  Carolina 
Infantry  as  Company  D,  Edward  Savage,  captain;  E.  G. 
Meares,  first  lieutenant ;  and  Mr.  Van  Bokkelen,  second  lieu- 
tenant. He  served  through  the  Seven  Days'  Battles  around 
Richmond,  Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorsville 
with  conspicuous  bravery. 

After  the  Seven  Days'  Battles  around  Richmond  he  was 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  and  he  acted  as  adjutant  of  the 
company  for  some  time.     After  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg  he 


328  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

was  promoted  to  be  captain  of  the  company,  Captain  Meares 
having  been  killed.  Captain  Van  Bokkelen  was  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  and  died  within  a  month  after- 
wards. 

It  was  with  genuine  grief  that  the  death  of  Captain  Van 
Bokkelen,  which  occurred  in  Eichmond,  was  announced  to 
the  regiment  while  on  the  march  in  the  campaign  of  1863. 
He  was  universally  popular  and  almost  idolized  by  his  own 
men.  He  was  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  full  of  youth- 
ful ardor,  intelligent,  and  with  an  acute  conception  of  his 
duties  and  an  indomitable  energy  in  pursuing  the  line  of 
conduct  which  a  discriminating  judgment  dictated  to  him. 
To  him,  possibly,  more  than  to  any  other  officer,  was  due 
the  high  morale  to  which  the  company  attained.  His  surviv- 
ing classmates  of  Jewett's  school  still  remember  the  sterling 
character  of  this  worthy  son  of  the  Cape  Fear,  who  was  gen- 
erally beloved  for  his  unselfish,  kindly  nature  and  genial 
humor. 

Eev.  Dr.  Alfred  A.  Watson  was  chaplain  of  the  Second 
Eegiment,  and,  besides  his  clerical  duties,  gave  valuable 
service  as  a  scout.  His  information  of  the  topography  of 
the  country  was  of  great  value  to  the  commanding  officer. 
He  had  the  profound  respect  of  every  man.  He  was  com- 
missioned the  21st  of  June,  1861,  and  resigned  in  1862. 
He  preached  in  Wilmington  many  years  after  the  war,  and 
was  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  East  Carolina  from  1874  until 
his  death. 

Capt.  O.  A.  Wiggins,  a  gallant  veteran  of  Lane's  brigade, 
entered  the  service  as  a  private  in  the  Scotland  Neck  Mounted 
Eiflemen,  organized  in  his  native  county,  and  subsequently 
was  promoted  to  lieutenant  of  Company  E,  Thirty-seventh 
Eegiment,  in  the  brigade  then  commanded  by  General  Branch, 
and  later  by  General  Lane.  With  this  command  he  went 
through  the  entire  war,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Han- 
over Courthouse,  Mechanicsville,  Cold  Harbor,  Eraser's 
Farm,  Cedar  Eun,  Second  Manassas,  Ox  Hill,  Sharpsburg, 
Harper's  Ferry,    Shepherdstown,   Fredericksburg,    Chancel- 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  329 

lorsville,  Gettysburg,  Falling  Waters,  Bristow  Station,  Mine 
Eun,  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania  Courthouse,  Eeams  Sta- 
tion, Jones'  Farm,  Hare's  Hill,  and  the  fighting  on  the  Peters- 
burg lines  until  they  were  broken.  He  was  wounded  at  Chan- 
cellorsville.  At  Spottsylvania  Courthouse,  May  12  th,  he  was 
promoted  to  captain  on  the  field,  and  was  wounded  on  the 
same  field  May  21st;  at  Petersburg,  April  2d,  he  was  shot  in 
the  head  and  made  prisoner.  While  being  conveyed  to  John- 
sons Island,  he  escaped  by  jumping  from  a  car  window 
while  the  train  was  at  full  speed,  near  Harrisburg,  Pa., 
after  which  he  disguised  himself  and  worked  his  way  back 
to  Dixie. 

Capt.  J.  Marshall  Williams,  of  Fayetteville,  entered  the 
Confederate  service  in  the  Bethel  Regiment  as  a  private. 
When  the  regiment  was  disbanded  he  and  Col.  K.  M. 
Murchison  organized  a  company  of  125  men,  which  was  as- 
signed to  the  Fifty-fourth  Regiment.  After  the  Fifty-fourth 
Regiment  was  organized,  it  was  sent  immediately  to  Lee's 
army  and  assigned  to  Hood's  brigade.  When  Hood  was  pro- 
moted. Gen.  Robert  F.  Hoke  succeeded  to  the  command.  The 
brigade  was  composed  of  the  6th,  21st,  54th,  and  57th  Regi- 
ments and  was  in  Jackson's  corps.  This  brigade  was  under 
six  or  eight  different  commanders,  but  was  always  known  as 
Hoke's  old  brigade.  It  was  in  most  of  Lee's  battles.  When 
the  regiment  was  captured  at  Fredericksburg,  Captain  Wil- 
liams was  on  detached  service  and  absent. 

Having  no  command,  he  was  then  detailed  to  command 
sharpshooters  in  different  regiments  until  his  regiment  was 
exchanged.  He  had  the  rank  of  captain  and  was  adjutant 
and  inspector  general ;  saw  his  regiment  overpowered  and  cap- 
tured twice ;  and  on  the  latter  occasion  he  made  his  escape 
by  swimming  the  Rapidan  River  near  Brandy  Station.  He 
was  wounded  once,  and  had  his  shoulder  dislocated  by  a 
fall.  He  surrendered  at  Appomattox  as  second  senior  officer 
of  the  regiment,  and  rode  home  on  a  horse  that  had  been  with 
Hoke's  staff  for  two  years  and  wounded  twice. 

Capt.  A.  B.  Williams,  of  Fayetteville,  entered  the  Con- 


330  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

federate  service  at  the  age  of  eighteen  as  second  lieutenant  of 
Company  C,  Light  Battery,  Tenth  Eegiment,  organized  at 
Charlotte,  May  16,  1861,  and  was  promoted  to  captain 
March  1,  1864.  He  was  first  ordered  to  Ealeigh,  then  to 
New  Bern,  and  various  other  places  in  eastern  North  Caro- 
lina, and  was  in  many  of  the  gTeat  battles,  including  Mal- 
vern Hill,  Gettysburg,  the  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania  Court- 
house, where  he  was  severely  wounded,  Petersburg,  and  Appo- 
mattox Courthouse.  He  was  attached  to  Pogue's  battalion, 
Third  Corps,  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  and  went  with 
Lee's  army  to  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania. 

His  battery  is  supposed  to  have  fired  one  of  the  last,  if  not 
the  last,  shot  at  Appomattox.  He  was  subsequently  mayor 
of  Fayetteville,  chairman  of  County  Commissioners,  captain 
of  the  Lafayette  Light  Infantry,  president  of  the  Centen- 
nial Celebration,  and  delegate  to  State  and  National  con- 
ventions. 

From  a  eulogy  by  Colonel  Broadfoot,  a  fellow  member  of 
U.  C.  V.  Camp,  the  following  is  taken : 

Comrades: — This  time  it  is  an  artilleryman — Capt. 
Arthur  Butler  Williams,  of  Brem's  Battery,  Army  of  North- 
ern Virginia,  Company  C,  Tenth  Eegiment,  North  Caro- 
lina Troops,  whose  g-uns  fired  the  last  shot  at  Appomattox 
which  will  echo  and  reecho  to  the  last  syllable  of  recorded 
time,  and  gladden  all  hearts  ready  and  worthy  to  do  and  die 
for  country.  In  the  sixty-first  year  of  his  age  he  passed 
quietly  to  his  rest. 

He  was  of  fine  presence,  good  manners,  pleasing  address, 
and  withal  plain  as  a  pikestaff.  His  habits  were  exemplary, 
his  principles  sound,  his  character  the  highest;  in  the  com- 
munity, in  fact  in  this  part  of  the  State,  everybody  knew  him, 
everybody  respected,  and  those  who  knew  him  best,  loved  him. 

We  shall  miss  his  manly  form,  his  cheerful  greeting — the 
eyes  that  looked  you  squarely  in  the  face,  but  always  pleas- 
antly. The  open  hands  are  now  folded,  palm  downward ;  the 
tongue  that  always  voiced  the  bright  side,  and  was  never — no 
never — ^known  to  grumble,  has  been  hushed. 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  331 

Comrades,  let  us  speak  more  often  the  kindly  word,  extend 
more  readily  the  helping  hand  to  each  other;  and  let  each 
soldier  keep  his  armor  bright  against  that  day,  when  each  in 
turn  shall  be  called  to  pass  inspection  before  the  great  Cap- 
tain— ''Close  up." 

Capt.  Robert  Williams  became  captain  of  the  Rifle 
Guards,  but  having  resigned,  he  was  appointed  purser  of  the 
blockade  runner  Index,  and  died  of  yellow  fever  while  in  that 
service. 

Capt.  David  Williams,  of  the  Burgaw  section  of  New 
Hanover,  raised  Company  K  of  the  Third  Regiment  of  State 
Troops,  and  was  one  of  the  most  valued  officers  of  that  regi- 
ment. He  had  the  esteem,  confidence,  and  affection  of  his 
soldiers  to  a  remarkable  degree. 

Thomas  Fanning  Wood,  in  April,  1861,  joined  the  Wil- 
mington Rifle  Guards,  which  later  became  Company  I,  Eighth 
Regiment  of  Volunteers.  In  November,  1861,  the  regiment 
was  hurried  to  Coosawhatchie  to  confront  the  Federals  who 
had  landed  on  the  South  Carolina  coast;  and  in  the  spring 
of  1862,  it  joined  Jackson's  corps  in  Virginia. 

Doctor  Wood  was  often  called  on  to  help  the  sick  soldiers  in 
the  hospitals,  and  after  the  Seven  Days'  Battles  around  Rich- 
mond he  was  ordered  to  hospital  duty.  When  Dr.  Otis  F. 
Manson,  of  Richmond  Hospital,  learned  that  he  was  a  medi- 
cal student,  he  secured  from  the  Secretary  of  War  an  order 
detailing  him  for  duty  at  the  hospital,  with  the  privilege  of 
attending  lectures  at  the  Virginia  Medical  College.  Doctor 
Manson  had  brought  his  library  to  Richmond  with  him,  and 
gave  Doctor  Wood  free  access  to  it.  In  1862,  after  passing 
the  examination  by  the  Medical  Board,  Doctor  Wood  was 
appointed  assistant  surgeon  and  served  in  that  capacity  until 
the  end  of  the  war. 

After  the  war.  Doctor  Wood  attained  eminence  in  his  pro- 
fession. He  served  many  years  as  Secretary  of  the  State  Med- 
ical Society,  and  he  established  and  edited  until  his  death 
the  Medical  Journal,  a  publication,  highly  valued  by  his 
professional  brethren. 


332  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

John  L.  Wooster  was  first  lieutenant  of  Company  E,  First 
Regiment.  He  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder  at  one  of  the 
Seven  Days'  Battles  around  Eichmond  in  1SG2,  and  disabled 
from  further  service. 

William  A.  Wooster,  private,  Company  I,  Eighteenth 
Eegiment,  was  killed  in  the  Seven  Days'  fight  in  Virginia. 
He  was  one  of  the  brightest  young  men  of  the  Cape  Fear.  He 
had  been  commissioned  lieutenant  before  he  was  killed. 

Adam  Empie  Wright  was  commissioned  the  20th  of  July, 
1862,  as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  New  Hanover  County 
hospital  in  Wilmington. 

Thomas  Charles  Wright,  sergeant  major,  was  one  of  the 
brightest  and  best  of  the  Wilmington  boys  who  went  from 
Jewett's  school  to  the  War  between  the  States.  Fired  with 
the  enthusiasm  of  youth  and  manly  courage,  he  served  with 
great  credit  in  the  Virginia  campaigns  and  was  mortally 
wounded  in  the  head,  and  died  at  a  hospital  in  Richmond. 

Capt.  James  A.  Wright,  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Wright, 
was  captain  of  Company  E,  First  Regiment.  He  was  killed 
in  the  battles  around  Richmond.  He  was  the  most  brilliant 
young  man  of  Wilmington — and  of  the  State — and  his  early 
death  was  greatly  deplored. 

Lieut.  Joshua  Granger  Wright  first  enlisted  for  mili- 
tary duty  in  the  spring  of  1862,  becoming  the  orderly  ser- 
geant of  an  independent  cavalry  company.  But  he  was  with 
this  command  not  more  than  four  or  five  weeks  when  he 
became  a  member  of  the  First  North  Carolina  Infantry, 
which  had  been  on  duty  in  Virginia  since  July,  1861.  In 
this  regiment  he  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany E.  The  regiment  was  part  of  Ripley's  brigade,  D.  H. 
Hill's  division,  and  served  with  great  credit  in  the  battles  of 
Boonsboro,  or  South  Mountain,  Sharpsburg,  Fredericksburg, 
and  Chancellorsville.  At  the  last  battle,  while  participating 
in  the  gallant  assault  by  Jackson's  corps,  he  was  seriously 
wounded,  a  shot  passing  through  his  left  hip.  This  caused 
his  entire  disability  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  he  at- 
tempted to  reenter  the  service,  but  soon  found  it  impossible 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  333 

to  undertake  duty  in  the  field.  Returning  to  Wilmington, 
he  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  office  of  the  provost  marshal 
for  several  months.  He  made  two  more  attempts  to  enter  the 
field,  without  success,  the  last  bringing  him  in  the  vicinity 
of  Raleigh  en  route  to  Lee's  army,  when  he  received  the 
news  of  its  surrender. 

Charles  W.  Yates  enlisted  in  1862  in  an  independent 
cavalry  company  organized  from  several  counties,  which  be- 
came Company  E,  of  the  Forty-first  Regiment,  North  Caro- 
lina Troops.  During  nearly  the  whole  of  his  service  he 
acted  as  courier  for  Col.  John  A.  Baker  and  his  successor. 
Col.  Roger  Moore.  Among  the  cavalry  engagements  in  which 
he  took  part  were  those  at  New  Bern,  Kinston,  Hanover 
Courthouse,  Reams  Station,  Ashland,  Chaffin's  Farm,  Drew- 
ry's  Bluff  and  Petersburg.  He  was  slightly  wounded  in  the 
skirmish  near  Kinston;  and  just  after  the  fall  of  New  Bern 
in  June,  1862,  he  was  captured  and  imprisoned  in  a  jail  at 
that  place  several  months,  and  afterwards  held  nearly  two 
months  at  Governors  Island  and  Fort  Delaware,  before  he  was 
exchanged.  During  the  retreat  at  Appomattox  Courthouse, 
he  was  captured  in  the  fight  at  Namozine  Church,  April  6th, 
and  after  that  he  was  a  prisoner  of  war  at  Point  Lookout 
until  June,  1865. 

THE  ROSTER  OF  CAPE  FEAR  CAMP  U.  C.  Y. 
Doubtless  many  examples  of  faithful,  efficient,^  and  ever 
heroic  service  have  been  overlooked  in  the  preparation  of  this 
record,  although  diligent  inquiries  have  been  made  in  order 
that  it  might  be  as  nearly  complete  as  possible.  To  this  end 
I  have  been  permitted  to  copy  the  roster  of  Cape  Fear  Camp, 
IT.  C.  v.,  although  it  may  be  said  that  it  comprises  only  a 
part  of  that  great  number  of  Wilmington  men  who  served 
the  Confederacy  in  the  AVar  between  the  States. 
Alderman,  Allison 

Alderman,  G.  F. 
Private  Co.  I,  lOth  N.  C 


334  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Atkinson,  John  W. 

Col.  10th  Va.  Artillery Died  Oct.  26,  1910. 

Baldwin,  A,  M. 

Private  Co.  K,  40th  N.  C 

Barry,  John 

Sergt.  Co.  E,  1st  N.  C Died  Mar.  28,  1914. 

Bear,  Solomon 

Private  Howard's  Cavalry Died  Feb.  24,  1904. 

Bellamy,  W.  J.  H. 

Private  Co.  I,  18th  N.  C Died  Nov.  18,  1911. 

Belden,  Louis  S. 

Sergt.  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C Died  June  8,  1914. 

Bernard,  W.  H. 

Private  Co.  H,  Bethel  Regiment 

Bishop,   C.  W. 

Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C 

Bishop,  H.  M. 

Private  Co.  H,  3d  N.  C 

Blackwell,   Rev.    C.    S. 

Sergt.  Co.  F,  2d  Va Removed  to  Norfolk,  Va. 

Blanks,   Wm. 

Non-Com.   Staff,  61st  N.  C Died  Feb.  26,  1904. 

Bolles,   C.   P. 

Captain  P.  A.  C.  S Died  1910  or  1911. 

Boatwright,  J.  L. 

Captain  P.  A.  C.  S 

Boatwright,  J.  H. 

Private  1st  Bat.  S.  C.  Cadets Died  Jan.  27,  1911. 

Boney,  G.  J. 

Corp.  Co.  H,  40th  N.  C 

Bowden,  W.  B. 

Private  Co.  H,  3d  Cavalry Died  Mar.  15,  1903. 

Brown,  A.  D. 

Lieut.  Co.  C,  Cumming's  Battery 

Brown,   E.   A. 

Private  Co.  C,  4th  Artillery Died  June  26,  1905. 

Brown,  Geo.  L. 

Hart's  Battery,  Va Sent  to  Richmond  1909. 

Brown,   I.   H. 

Private  Co.  K,  3d  N.  C Died  May  5,  1892. 

Brown,   T.   A. 

Sergt.  36th  N.  C Died  Aug.  14,  1902. 

Bunting,  T.  O. 

Private  Co.  C,  5th  Cavalry Died  June  20,  1913. 

Burr,  Ancrum 

Lieut.  Co.  D,  36th  N.  C Removed. 

Burr,   Jas.   G. 

Col.  7th  Bat.  H.  G Died  Nov.  13,  1898. 

Calder.   Wm. 

Adjt.  1st  Bat.  Artillery 

Cantwell,  J.  L. 
Col.   51st  N.  C Died   Dec.   21,  1909. 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  335 

Capps,  T.  J. 
Corp.  Co.  E,  3d  N.  C 

Carman,  Sam'l 

Private  Co.  E,  56th  N.  C Died  Apr.  17,  1902. 

Carmichael,  Rev.  James 
Chaplain,  30th  Va Died  Nov.  25,  1911. 

Cazaux,  A.   D. 

Capt.  A.  Q.  M.,  18th  N.  C 

Chadwick,  RoM. 
Private  Co.  K,  3d  N.  C 

Chapman,  Louis 
Private  Co.  D,  2d  Cavalry 

Cobb,  John  G. 
Private  Co.  C,  1st  Bat.  Artillery 

Collier,  Sam.  P. 

Sergt.  Maj.  2d  N.  C 

Cook,    A.    B. 
Sergt.  Co.  I,  18th  N.  C Died  Jan.  12,  1908. 

Corbett,  R.  A. 
Private  Co.  C,  4th  Cavalry 

Cornish,  F.  W. 
Private  Co.  H,  51st  N.  C 

Cornish,  W.  A. 
Private  Co.  H,  18th  N.  C 

Cowan,  M.   S. 

Capt.  Co.  I,  3d  N,  C Died  Mar.  24,  1900. 

Cowles,  Chas.  L. 

Capt.  Co.  B,  56th  N.  C Died  Oct.  9,  1901. 

Cox,  R.  E. 
Private  Co.  B,  S.  C.  Cavalry 

Crapon,  Geo.  M. 

Lieut.  Co.  H,  3d  N.  C 

Crow,    J.    E. 
Sergt.   Co.   E,   12th   Va Died   Nov.    4,  1907. 

Cumming,  J.  D. 

Capt.  Cumming's  Battery Died  Nov.  26,  1901, 

Cumming,  Preston 
Sergt.  Cumming's  Battery 

Currie,  Jno.  H. 
Private  5th  Cavalry To  Fayetteville  Camp 

Casteen,  J.   B. 
Orderly  Sergt.  Co.  D,  3d  N.  C 

Cannon,  J.  W. 
Private  Co.  G,  20th  N.  C 

Cannon,  Alfred 

*  *  :):  4:  *  «  « 

Cox,  T.  B. 

Private  Co.  F,  67th  N.  C 

Cox,  A.  F. 

******* 

Daves,  Graham 

Major,  P.  A.  C.  S Resigned  Feb.  1,  1890. 

Davis,  Jackson 
Sergt.  Co.  K,  5th  N.  C Died  Mar.  12,  1902. 


336  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Davis,  Junius 
Corp.  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C 

Davis,   M.    T. 

Private  Co.  A,  35tli  N.  C 

DeRosset,  A.  L. 

Capt.  P.  A.  C.  S Died  Feb.,   1910. 

DeRosset,  Wm.  L. 
Col.  3d  N.  C Died  Aug.  14,  1910. 

Dicltey,   J.   J. 
Private  Co.  D,  3d  N.  C Died  Nov.  11,  1911. 

Diclcsey,  J.  W. 
Private  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C Died  Aug.  31,  1899. 

Divine,  J.   F. 
Capt.  A.  Q.  M.,  C.  S.  A Died  Aug.  20,  1909. 

Dixon,  W.   M. 
Private  Co.  G,  10th  N.  C 

Dowdy,  W.  R. 
Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  Dec.  10,  1911. 

Darden,  R.   J. 
Goldsboro  Provost  Guard 

Elliott,  W.  P. 
Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  May  20,  1894. 

Evans,  A.  H. 

Died  1911  or  1912. 

Everett,  John  A. 
Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C 

Farrior,  S.  R. 
Lieut.  Co.  A,  43d  N.  C 

Farrow,  J.  A. 
Private  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C Died  Feb.,  1911. 

Farrow,   Benj. 
Private  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C Died  Oct.  14,  1911. 

Fennell,  Owen 

Lieut.  Co.  C,  1st  N.  C Died  July  6,  1910. 

Fillyaw,  DeLeon 
Corp.  Co.  A,  40th  N.  C Died  Jan.  27,  1904. 

Fillyaw,  O.  M. 
Private  Co.  A,  40th  N.  C 

French,  W.  R. 

Private  Co.  E,  51st  N.  C Died 

Gaither,  W.  W. 
Surgeon  28th  N.  C Died 

Ganzer,  C.   H. 

Private  Howard's  Cavalry Died  May  22,  1899. 

Garrell,  Jacob  F. 
Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  May  29,  1891. 

Giles,  Clayton 

Private  Co.  I,  53d  N.  C 

Giles,  Norwood 

Private  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C Died  Dec.  11,  1899. 

Goodman,  Wm. 
Private  Co.  A,  1st  Bat.  Artillery Died  Apr.  3,  1911. 


TEE  ^YAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  337 

Gore,    D.   L. 

Private  Co.  D,  72d  N.  C 

Gray,  Jesse  W. 

Private  Co.  B,  3d  Cavalry Died  Apr.  18,  1911. 

Green,  W.   H.  o   -.o-i.. 

Sergt.  Maj.  Starr's  Battery Died  Jan.  12,  1914. 

Hall,  B.  F. 

Sergt.  Co.  A,  43d  N.  C 

Hall,  E.  D. 

Col.46tliN.C Died  June  11,  1896. 

Hall,  S.  G. 

Private  Co.  E,  21st  N.  C Died  July  31,  1911. 

Hamme,  R.  F. 

Private  Co.  G,  30th  N.  C 

Hanby,  John  H. 

Private  Co.  B,  16th  Va Died  Apr.  22,  1910. 

Hanby,  Jos.  H. 

Private  Co.  B,  16th  Va Died  Sept.  8,1905. 

Hancock,  J.  T. 

Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C 

Hankins,  J.  A.  ,      ^^^^ 

Private  Co.  C,  Starr's  Battery Died  July.  1910. 

Hankins,  A.  G. 

Lieut.  Co.  H,  3d  Cavalry 

Hankins,  W.  M. 

Private  Co.  H,  3d  Cavalry 

Harper,  John  H. 

Private  Co.  H,  3d  N.  C Died 

Harriss,  W.  W. 

Asst.  Surgeon  Died 

Hawkins,  J.  W. 

Private  Co.  A,  1st  Bat.  Artillery 

Hayden,  P.  H. 

Private  Co.  C,  19th  Va Died 

Heide,  A.  S.  ^^^^ 

Private  Co.  A,  5th  Cavalry Resigned  Feb.  4,  1901. 

Heide,  R.  E.  „   ^^^^ 

Private  Co.  H,  1st  N.  C Died  June  13,  1905. 

Heinsberger,  P. 

Private  Co.  C,  Starr's  Battery 

Henderson,  T.  B.  _„„„ 

Lieut.  Co.  H.  3d  Cavalry Died  Mar.  10,  1890. 

Hewett,  Jas.  H. 

Sergt.  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C Died  Mar.  20,  1913. 

Hicks,  Jas.  H. 

Private  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C Died  Nov.  9,  1908. 

Hill,  A.  J. 

Sergt.  Co.  C,  4th  Cavalry Died 

Hill,  Owen  C 
Private  Co.  G,  3d  N.  C Died  Sept.  2,  1904. 


338  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Hines,  John  W. 
Private  Co.  D,  3d  N.  C Died  Feb.  27,  1906. 

Hodges,  L.  W. 
Private  16th  Va 

Hodges,  T.  A. 

Co.  E,  15th  Bat.  Artillery 

Huggins,  Geo.  W. 
Lieut.  Co.  I,  18th  N.  C 

Huggins,  J.  B. 
Capt.  A.  Q.  M.,  C.  S.  A Died  May  16,  1910. 

Hawes,   J.   J. 
Sergt.  Co.  G,  20th  N.  C 

James,  Josh  T. 

Lieut.  Co.  I,  18th  N.  C Died  Nov.  13,  1899. 

Jewett,  Stephen 
Private  Co.  K,  44th  Ga 

Jones,  Geo.  T. 
Lieut.  Co.  E,  50th  N.  C 

Keeter,  Elijah 

Private  Co.  D,  3d  N.  C Died 

Kelly,    D.   C. 
Private  Co.  B,  36th  N.  C 

Kelly,  Jas.   E. 

Private  Co.  K,  20th  N.  C Died  Nov.  2,  1910. 

Kenly,  John  R. 
Private  Co.  A,  1st  Md.  Cavalry 

Kenan,  W.  R. 
Adjt.  43d  N.  C Died  Apr.  14,  1903. 

King,  Chas.  H. 
Q.  S.  61st  N.  C Died  1909  or  1910. 

King,   Jas.  A 
Private  Co.  A,  3d  Cavalry 

King,   Jas.   A. 
Private  Co.  B,  10th  N.  C 

King,   Jas.  M. 
Private  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C 

King,  John  M. 

Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  Dec,  1912. 

King,  T.  E. 

Sergt.  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  Dec.  1,  1911. 

King,  W.  H. 
Private  Co.  A,  3d  Cavalry 

Latta,  John  R. 

Adjt.  51st  N.  C Died  June  30.  1898. 

Lee,  J.  B. 

Leon,   L. 

Private  Co.  C,  1st  N.  C 

Leslie,   Alex. 

Private  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C 

Leslie,  Jos.  H. 
Private  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C Died  Sept.  13,  1896. 


THE  ^YAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  339 

Lewis,  Thos.  C. 

Capt.  Co.  I,  18th  N.  C Died  Nov.  14,  1909. 

Lippitt,  Thos.  B. 

Lieut.  Co.  G,  51st  N.  C Died  Dec.  21,  1898. 

Littleton,  D.  C. 

Private  Co.  H,  41st  N.  C 

Loftin,  Dr.  I.  C.  M. 

Co.  E,  20th  M Died 

Love,  Rich.  S. 

Sergt.  Co.  C,  4th  Cavalry Died 

Love,  Thad.  D. 

Maj.  24th  N.  C Died  Jan.  6,  1892. 

Lumsden,  H.  C. 

Private  Co.  E,  1st  N.  C 

MacRae,  W.  G. 

Capt.  Co.  C,  7th  N.  C 

Manning,  E.  W. 

Chief  Engineer,  C.  S.  N Died  Dec.  10,  1900. 

Martin,   E.   S. 

Lieut.  1st  Bat.  Artillery 

Marshall,  J.  R. 

Private  Co.  E,  3d  N.  C 

Mason,  W.  H. 

Private  Co.  E,  3d  N.  C 

Matthews,  D.  W. 

Private  Co.  C,  1st  Battery 

Matthews,  J.  E. 

Sergt.  Sharpshooters Dropped  hy  request  Apr.  9,  1910. 

Meares,   O.   P. 

Lieut.  Col.  18th  N.  C Died  Nov.  21,  1906. 

Meares,  T.   D. 

Courier,  Wade  Hampton 

Merritt,  Joseph, 

Private,  18th  N.  C Died  Aug.  12,  1904. 

Merritt,  L.  W. 

Metts,  J.  I 

Capt.  Co.  G,  3d  N.  C 

Mitchell,  Frank  H. 

Private  Co.  1,  18th  N.  C Died  Feb.  28,  1899. 

Mintz,  W.  W. 

Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  Sept.  15,  1897. 

Montgomery,  Jas.  A. 

Private  Co.  B,  36th  N.  C 

Moore,  Benj.  R. 

Lieut.  Col.  Gen.  Bates'  Staff Died  Apr.  12,  1894. 

Moore,   E.   H. 

Lieut.  Co.  D,  7th  N.  C 

Moore,  Ed.  J. 

Sergt.  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C Died  May  12,  1891. 

Moore,   Roger 
Lieut.  Col.  3d  N.  C Died  Apr.  21,  1900. 

23 


340  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Moore,  W.  A. 

Private  Co.  K,  36th  N.  C Died  Apr.  25,  1906. 

Moore,   W.   H. 

Private  Co.  A,  1st  Cav 

Morton,  Rev.  P.  C. 

Chaplain,  23d  Va Died  Feb.  28,  1903. 

Mott,  A.  J. 

Private  Co.  G,  61st  N.  C 

Munn,  D. 

Capt.  Co.  B,  36th  N.  C Died  Feb.,  1905. 

Myers,  Chas.  D. 

Capt.  P.  A.  C.  S Died  Oct.  2,  1892. 

Myrry,  R.  S. 
*  *  *  ^a  i).  if  if 

McClammy,  Chas.  W. 

Major,  3d  Cavalry Died  Feb.  26,  1896. 

McClammy,  Chas.  W. 

Private  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C Died  Nov.  19,  1900. 

McEvoy,   John 

Lieut.  Co.  A,  2d  N.  C Died  Nov.  21,  1896. 

McGirt,   A.   G. 

Private  Co.  D,  46th  N.  C Died  Aug.  22,  1890. 

McGowan,  Jas.  M. 

Capt.  A.  Q.  M Died  June  20,  1903. 

Mclntire,  R.  M. 

Capt.  Co.  C,  4th  Cavalry Died  Apr.  17,  1913. 

Mclver,   J.   T. 

Private  Co.  G,  48th  N.  C Died  Feb.  24,  1907. 

McKeithan,  R.  W. 

Corp.  Co.  E,  10th  N.  C 

McKoy,  T.  Hall 

Major  Lane's  Staff Died  May  10,  1902, 

McMillan,  W.  D. 

Sergt.  Maj.  51st  N.  C 

McQueen,  H.  C. 

Private  Co.  D,  1st  Bat.  Artillery 

Nobles,   S.  W. 

Capt.  Co.  K,  61st  N.  C Died  Feb.  16,  1904. 

Northrop,  W.  H. 

Capt.  A.  Q.  M.,  3d  N.  C 

Oldham,  Wm.  P. 

Capt.  Co.  K,  44th  N.  C 

Ormsby,  Jas.  O. 

Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C 

Ortman,  F.  W. 

Private  Co.  A,  25th  S.  C Died  April  22,  191L 

Pearce,   E.   L. 

Capt.  Co.  E,  26th  Ga.... Died 

Pgtssg    a    B 

Lieut.  Co.  F,  56th  M .'...... Died  Oct.  13,  1893. 

Pickett,  J.   H. 
Private  Co.  B,  1st  Bat.  Artillery 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  341 

Pinner,   J.   L. 

Private  Co.  A,  1st  Bat.  Artillery 

Poisson,  J.   D. 

Sergt.  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C Died  Jan.  11,  1911. 

Porter,  Elijah 

Capt.  Co.  E,  3d  N.  C Died  July  1,  1907. 

Potter,  Dr.  F.  W. 

Surgeon,  50th  N.  C Died  June  1,  1893. 

Pratt,    D. 

Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died 

Prempert,  H.  C. 

Sergt.  Co.  H,  2d  N.  C Died  Sept.  17,  1896. 

Price,   Joseph 

Commander  C.  S.  N Died  May  15,  1895. 

Price,   R.   W. 

Private  Co.  D,  72d  N.  C Died  Nov.  25,  1909. 

Primrose,  Jno.  W. 

Capt.  A.  C.  S.,  1st  Cavalry Resigned  Dec.  29,  1890. 

Rankin,  R.  G. 

Private  Co.  A,  1st  Bat.  Artillery Died  June  28,  1913. 

Rankin,  J.   T. 

Lieut.  Co.  D,  1st  Bat.  Artillery 

Reaves,  Calvin 

Private  Co.  G,  61st  N.  C 

Reaves,  J.  F.  A. 

Private  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C Died  June  27,  1908. 

Reaves,  R.   M. 

Private  Co.  E,  18th  N.  C 

Rivenbark,  W.  W. 

Private  Co.  F,  20th  N.  C Died  Nov.  25,  1904. 

Roberts,  B.  M. 

Private  Co.  C,  13th  Battery Died  Feb.  4,  1903. 

Robinson,  Chas.  H. 

Quartermaster,  31st  N.  C 

Rogers,   J.   M. 

Private  Co.  B,  1st  Bat.  Artillery 

Ruark,  J.  H. 

Sergt.  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C 

Russell,  B.   R. 

Asst.  Engr.  C.  S.  N Died  Dec.  15,  1906. 

Savage,  Henry 

Capt.  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C Died  Aug.  1,  1904. 

Scharf,    E. 

Private  1st  Bat.  Ala.  Cavalry Removed  to  New  York. 

Schenck,  N.  W. 

Captain  A.  C.  S 

Schriver,   Eli 

Private  Co.  H,  3d  N.  C.  Cavalry 

Sharp,  John  H. 

Private  13th  Bat.  Va.  Artillery 

Shepard,  Dr.  J.  C. 
Asst.  Surgeon  C.  S.  A Died  Mar.  4,  1903. 


342  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Shepard,  T.  A, 

Lieut.  Co.  G,  18th  N.  C Died  July  5,  1899. 

Shutte,  John  T. 

Corp.  Starr's  Battery Removed  to  New  York. 

Sikes,   R.   J. 

Private  Co.  H,  3d  N.  C 

Skipper,  Josh  G. 

Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  Dec.  18,  1904. 

Smith,  H.  H. 

Lieut.  Co.  A,  5th  N.  C Died  Aug.  24,  1908. 

Smith,  Rev.  J.  A. 

Private  Co.  I,  N.  C.  Artillery 

Smith,  M.   K. 

Private  Co.  D,  72d  N.  C 

Smith,  Peter  H. 

Private  Co.  F,  3d  N.  C Died 

Smith,  T.  Jeff. 

Private  Co.  I,  18th  N.  C 

Sneeden,  S.  J. 

Private  Co.  A,  3d  N.  C Died  Dec.  7,  1910. 

Southerland,  D.  D. 

Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  June  14,  1900. 

Southerland,  T.  J. 

Capt.  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died  Feb.  18,  189L 

Spooner,  W.  T. 

Co.  F,  3d  N.  C 

Stedman,  C.  M. 

Major  44th  N.  C Greensboro,  N.  C. 

Stevenson,  J.  C. 

Private  Co.  A,  36th  N.  C Died  Apr.  13,  1907. 

Stevenson,  W.  M. 

Capt.  Co.  B,  61st  N.  C 

Stolter,  Henry 

Private  Co.  A,  18th  N.  C Died  Oct.  5,  1896. 

Stolter,  John  F. 

Private  Co.  A,  18th  N.  C Died  Dec.  27,  1903. 

Story,  S.  A. 

Private  Co.  I,  10th  N.  C Died 

Sutton,   D.  M. 

Private  Co.  K,  18th  N.  C Died 

Swain,    S.   A. 

Private  Co.  C,  1st  Bat.  Artillery Died  Feb.  11,  1899. 

Sykes,  Thos.  P. 

Private  3d  N.  C.  Cavalry 

Taylor,  James  H. 

Adjt.  51st  N.  C 

Taylor,  John  D. 

Lieut.  Col.  36th  N.  C Died  May  21,  1912. 

Taylor,   J.   J. 

Private  Co.  H,  3d  Cavalry Died  Apr.  29,  1902. 

Taylor,  Lewis 

Private  Co.  B,  1st  Bat.  Artillery Died  Oct.  8,  1912. 

Taylor,  M.   P. 
Died 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  343 

Tilley,  Geo.  F. 

Private  Co.  H,  18th  N.  C Died  May  9,  1905. 

Turrentine,  J.  R. 

Hart's  Bat.  Light  Artillery 

Ulmer,   J.   H. 

Died  Sept.  2,  1910. 

Van  Amringe,  Stacy 
Capt.  Co.  G,  61st  N.  C Died  Jan.  2,  1897. 

Voss,  John  G. 
Private  Co.  A,  18th  N.  C Died  July  19,  1890. 

Waddell,  A.  M. 

Lieut.  Col.  3d  N.  C Died  Mar.  17,  1912. 

Walker,  J.  Alvis 

Private  Co.  E,  2d  Eng.  C.  S.  A Died  Sept,  29,  1912. 

Walker,  John  M. 
Ord.  Sergt.  Co.  F,  2d  N.  C.  Battery 

Walker,  J.  P. 
Private  Co.  E,  18th  N.  C Died  1909  or  1910. 

W^allace    J.  P 

Color  Corps,  Co.  C,  51st  N.  C. ...'...'.. .' Died  Oct.,  1911. 

Ward,   C.   H. 
Private  Co.  G,  10th  N.  C 

Warrock,  E.  S. 
Corp.  Ga.  Artillery Removed. 

Warrock,  W.  S. 
Capt.  Co.  B,  1st  Ala,  Cavalry Died  Mar.  19,  1900. 

Watkins,  L.  A. 

Private  Co.  D,  5th  N.  C.  Battery 

Watson,  Rt,  Rev.  A.  A. 
Chaplain  2d  N.  C Died  Apr.  21,  1905. 

Watson,  A.  W. 
Private  Co.  F,  7th  N.  C 

Weill,  Abram 
Medical   Department    Withdrawn. 

West,  John  W. 

Sergt.  Co.  D,  36th  N,  C 

White,   B.   F. 

Lieut.  Co.  I,  18th  N.  C Died  June  23,  1903. 

Wiggs,  Alex.  W. 
Sergt.  Co.  D,  36th  N.  C Died  Aug.  30,  1906. 

Wiggins,  O.  A. 
Capt.  Co.  E,  36th  N.  C Resigned  May  10,  1902. 

Wilder,   Jesse 
Lieut.  Co.  C,  4th  Cavalry 

Wilkins,  W.  L. 

Corp.  Co,  F,  3d  N,  C Died  Aug.  31,  1908, 

Williams,  Geo,  W. 
Private  Co.  F,  3d  N,  C 

Williams,  J.  A. 
Private  Co.  G,  3d  N.  C.  Cavalry 

Williams,  J.  R. 
Sergt.  Co.  H,  S.  C.  V 


344  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Wood,  Dr.  Thos.  F. 

Asst.  Surg.   3d  N.  C Died  Aug.   22,   1895. 

Woodcock,  Geo.  W. 

Lieut.  Co.  E,  18th  N.  C Died  Feb.  10,  1896. 

Woodcock,  Henry  M. 

Private  Co.  E,  18th  N.  C Removed  to  Georgia. 

Woodward,  W.  J. 

Private  Co.  H,  1st  N.  C Died  Oct.  11,  1907. 

Wooten,  Edward 

Lieut.  Co.  B,  5th  Cavalry Withdrawn. 

Wright,  Josh  G. 

Lieut.  Co.  E,  1st  N.  C Died  Dec.  30,  1900. 

Yates,   C.   W. 
Co.  E,  3d  Cavalry 

Yopp,  F.  V.  B. 
Lieut.  Co.  G,  51st  N.  C Died  Dec.  29,  1894. 


FORT  FISHER. 


Col.  William  Lamb,  who  was  in  command  of  Fort  Fisher, 
in  his  admirable  report  of  its  defense,  says : 

"The  indentation  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean  in  the  Carolina 
coast  known  as  Onslow  Bay,  and  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver,  run- 
ring  south  from  Wilmington,  form  the  peninsula  known  as 
Federal  Point,  which,  during  the  Civil  War,  was  called 
Confederate  Point.  Not  quite  seven  miles  north  of  the  end 
of  this  peninsula  stood  a  high  sand-hill  called  the  'Sugar 
Loaf.'  Here  there  was  an  intrenched  camp  for  the  army  of 
Wilmington  under  Gen.  Braxton  Bragg,  the  department 
commander,  that  was  hid  from  the  sea  by  forest  and  sand- 
hills. From  this  intrenched  camp  the  river  bank,  with  a 
neighboring  ridge  of  sand-dunes,  formed  a  covered  way  for 
troops  to  within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  left  salient  of  Fort 
Fisher.  Between  the  road  and  the  ocean  beach  was  an  arm 
of  Masonboro  Sound,  and  where  it  ended,  three  miles  north  of 
the  fort,  were  occasional  fresh-water  swamps,  generally 
wooded  with  scrub  growth,  and  in  many  cases  quite  impassa- 
ble. Along  the  ocean  shore  was  an  occasional  battery  formed 
from  a  natural  sand-hill,  behind  which  Whitworth  guns  were 
carried  from  the  fort  to  cover  belated  blockade  runners  or  to 
protect  more  unfortunate  ones  that  had  been  chased  ashore. 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  345 

"About  half  a  mile  north  of  the  fort  there  was  a  rise  in  the 
plain,  forming  a  hill  some  twenty  feet  above  the  tide  on  the 
river  side,  and  on  this  was  a  redoubt  commanding  the  ap- 
proach to  the  fort  by  the  river  road.  Thus  nature,  assisted 
by  some  slight  engineering  work,  had  given  a  defense  to  Con- 
federate Point  which  would  have  enabled  an  efficient  com- 
mander at  the  intrenched  camp,  cooperating  with  the  garri- 
son of  Fort  Fisher,  to  render  the  Point  untenable  for  a  largely 
superior  force  at  night,  when  the  covering  fire  of  the  Federal 
Navy  could  not  distinguish  between  friend  and  foe." 

The  plans  of  Fort  Fisher  were  Colonel  Lamb's,  and  as  the 
work  progressed  they  were  approved  by  Generals  French, 
Raines,  Longstreet,  Beauregard,  and  Whiting.  It  was  styled 
by  Federal  engineers  "the  Malakoff  of  the  South."  It  was 
built  solely  with  the  view  of  resisting  the  fire  of  a  fleet,  and 
it  stood  uninjured,  except  as  to  armament,  in  two  of  the  fierc- 
est bombardments  the  world  has  ever  witnessed.  The  two 
faces  to  the  works  were  2,580  yards  long.  The  land  face  was 
682  yards  long,  and  the  sea  face  1,898  yards  long. 

The  Land  Face  of  Fokt  Fisher. 

At  the  land  face  of  Fort  Fisher  the  peninsula  was  about 
half  a  mile  wide.  This  face  commenced  about  one  hundred 
feet  from  the  river  with  a  half  bastion,  and  extended  with  a 
heavy  curtain  to  a  full  bastion  on  the  ocean  side,  where  it 
joined  the  sea  face.  The  work  was  built  to  withstand  the 
heaviest  artillery  fire.  There  was  no  moat  with  scarp  and 
counterscarp,  so  essential  for  defense  against  storming  par- 
ties, the  shifting  sands  rendering  such  a  construction  im- 
possible with  the  material  available. 

The  outer  slope  was  twenty  feet  high  and  was  sodded  with 
marsh  grass,  which  grew  luxuriantly.  The  parapet  was  not 
less  than  twenty-five  feet  thick,  with  an  inclination  of  only 
one  foot.  The  revetment  was  five  feet  nine  inches  high  from 
the  floor  of  the  gun  chambers,  and  these  were  some  twelve  feet 
or  more  from  the  interior  plane.  The  guns  were  all  mounted 
in  barbette  on  Columbiad  carriages,  there  being  no  casemated 


346  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

gun  in  the  fort.  There  were  twenty  heavy  guns  on  the  land 
faces,  each  gun  chamber  containing  one  or  two  guns,  and 
there  were  heavy  traverses  exceeding  in  size  any  known  to 
engineers,  to  protect  from  an  enfilading  fire.  They  extended 
out  some  twelve  feet  or  more  in  height  above  the  parapet, 
running  back  thirty  feet  or  more.  The  gun  chambers  were 
reached  from  the  rear  by  steps.  In  each  traverse  was  an 
alternate  magazine  or  bombproof,  the  latter  ventilated  by  an 
air  chamber.  The  passageways  penetrated  traverses  in  the 
interior  of  the  work,  forming  additional  bombproofs  for  the 
reliefs  for  the  guns. 

As  a  defense  against  infantry,  there  was  a  system  of  sub- 
terranean torpedoes  extending  across  the  peninsula,  five  to  six 
hundred  feet  from  the  land  face,  and  so  disconnected  that 
the  explosion  of  one  would  not  affect  the  others;  inside  the 
torpedoes,  about  fifty  feet  from  the  berm  of  the  work,  ex- 
tending from  river  bank  to  seashore,  was  a  heavy  palisade 
of  sharpened  logs  nine  feet  high,  pierced  for  musketry,  and 
80  laid  out  as  to  have  an  enfilading  fire  on  the  centre,  where 
there  was  a  redoubt  guarding  a  sally-port,  from  which  two 
Napoleons  were  run  out  as  occasion  required.  At  the  river 
end  of  the  palisade  was  a  deep  and  muddy  slough,  across 
which  was  a  bridge,  the  entrance  of  the  river  road  into  the 
fort;  commanding  this  bridge  was  a  Napoleon  gun.  There 
were  three  mortars  in  the  rear  of  the  land  face. 

The  Sea  Face  of  Fort  Fishee. 
The  sea  face,  for  one  hundred  yards  from  the  northwest 
bastion,  was  of  the  same  massive  character  as  the  land  face. 
A  crescent  battery  intended  for  four  guns  joined  this,  but 
it  was  converted  into  a  hospital  bombproof.  In  the  rear  a 
heavy  curtain  was  thrown  up  to  protect  the  chamber  from 
fragments  of  shells.  From  the  bombproof  a  series  of  bat- 
teries extended  for  three-quarters  of  a  mile  along  the  sea, 
connected  by  an  infantry  curtain.  These  batteries  had  heavy 
traverses,  but  were  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  feet  high 
to  the  top  of  the  parapets,  and  were  built  for  richochet  firing. 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  347 

On  the  line  was  a  bombproof  electric  battery  connected  with 
a  system  of  submarine  torpedoes.  Farther  along,  where  the 
channel  ran  close  to  the  beach,  inside  the  bar,  a  mound  bat- 
tery sixty  feet  high  was  erected,  with  two  heavy  guns  which 
had  a  plunging  fire  on  the  channel ;  this  was  connected  with 
a  battery  north  of  it  by  a  light  curtain.  Following  the  line 
of  the  works,  it  was  over  one  mile  from  the  mound  to  the 
northeast  bastion  at  the  angle  of  the  sea  and  land  faces,  and 
upon  this  line  twenty-four  heavy  guns  were  mounted.  From 
the  mound  for  nearly  one  mile  to  the  end  of  the  Point,  was 
a  level  sand  plain  scarcely  three  feet  above  high  tide,  and 
much  of  it  was  submerged  during  gales.  At  the  Point  was 
Battery  Buchanan,  four  guns,  in  the  shape  of  an  ellipse  com- 
manding the  Inlet,  its  two  11-inch  guns  covering  the  ap- 
proach by  land.  An  advanced  redoubt  with  a  24-pounder 
was  added  after  the  attack  by  the  forces  on  the  25th  of  De- 
cember, 1864.  A  wharf  for  large  steamers  was  in  close 
proximity  to  these  works.  Battery  Buchanan  was  a  citadel 
to  which  an  overpowered  garrison  might  retreat  and  with 
proper  transportation  be  safely  carried  off  at  night,  and  to 
which  reinforcements  could  be  sent  under  the  cover  of  dark- 
ness. 

The  Fokt  Fisher  Fight. 

General  Whiting,  in  his  official  report  of  the  taking  of 
Fort  Fisher  on  the  night  of  the  15th  of  January,  1865,  after 
an  assault  of  unprecedented  fury,  both  by  sea  and  land,  last- 
ing from  Friday  morning  until  Sunday  night,  says : 

"On  Thursday  night  the  enemy's  fleet  was  reported  off  the 
fort.  On  Friday  morning  the  fleet  opened  very  heavily.  On 
Friday  and  Saturday,  during  the  furious  bombardment  of 
the  fort,  the  enemy  was  allowed  to  land  without  molestation 
and  to  throw  up  a  light  line  of  field-works  from  Battery  Eam- 
seur  to  the  river,  thus  securing  his  position  from  molestation 
and  making  the  fate  of  Fort  Fisher,  under  the  circumstances, 
but  a  question  of  time. 


348  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES      ■ 

"On  Sunday,  the  fire  on  the  fort  reached  a  pitch  of  fury 
to  which  no  language  can  do  justice.  It  was  concentrated  on 
the  land  face  and  front.  In  a  short  time  nearly  every  gun 
was  dismounted  or  disabled,  and  the  garrison  suffered  se- 
verely by  the  fire.  At  three  o'clock  the  enemy's  land  force, 
which  had  been  gradually  and  slowly  advancing,  formed  in 
two  columns  for  assault.  The  garrison,  during  the  fierce 
bombardment,  was  not  able  to  stand  to  the  parapets,  and 
many  of  the  reinforcements  were  obliged  to  be  kept  a  great 
distance  from  the  fort.  As  the  enemy  slackened  his  fire  to 
allow  the  assault  to  take  place,  the  men  hastily  manned  the 
ramparts  and  gallantly  repulsed  the  right  column  of  assault. 
A  portion  of  the  troops  on  the  left  had  also  repulsed  the  first 
rush  to  the  left  of  the  work.  The  greater  portion  of  the  garri- 
son being,  however,  engaged  on  the  right,  and  not  being 
able  to  man  the  entire  works,  the  enemy  succeeded  in  making 
a  lodgment  on  the  left  flank,  planting  two  of  his  regimental 
flags  in  the  traverses.  From  this  point  we  could  not  dislodge 
him,  our  own  traverses  protecting  him  from  the  fire  of  our 
most  distant  guns.  From  this  time  it  was  a  succession  of 
fighting  from  traverse  to  traverse,  and  from  line  to  line  until 
nine  o'clock  at  night,  when  we  were  overpowered  and  all 
resistance  ceased. 

"The  fall  both  of  the  General  and  the  Colonel  commanding 
the  fort — one  about  four  and  the  other  about  four-thirty 
o'clock  p.  m.,  had  a  perceptible  effect  upon  the  men,  and  no 
doubt  hastened  greatly  the  result;  but  we  were  overpowered, 
and  no  skill  or  gallantry  could  have  saved  the  place  after  the 
enemy  effected  a  lodgment,  except  attack  in  the  rear.  The 
enemy's  loss  was  very  heavy,  and  so,  also,  was  our  own.  Of 
the  latter,  as  a  prisoner,  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain. 

"At  nine  o'clock,  p.  m.,  the  gallant  Major  Reilly,  who  had 
fought  the  fort  after  the  fall  of  his  superiors,  reported  the 
enemy  in  possession  of  the  sally-port.  The  brave  Captain 
Van  Benthuysen,  of  the  marines,  though  himself  badly 
wounded,  with  a  squad  of  his  men  picked  up  the  General  and 
the  Colonel  and  endeavored  to  make  way  to  Battery  Buch- 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  349 

anan,  followed  by  Reilly,  with  the  remnant  of  the  forces. 
On  reaching  there,  it  was  found  to  be  evacuated,  by  whose 
order  and  by  what  authority,  I  know  not.  No  boats  were 
there.  The  garrison  of  Fort  Fisher  had  been  coolly  aban- 
doned to  its  fate.  Thus  fell  Fort  Fisher  after  three  days' 
battle  unparalleled  in  the  annals  of  the  war.  jSTothing  was 
left  but  to  await  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  who  took  us  about 
10  p.  m.  The  fleet  surpassed  its  tremendous  efforts  in  the 
previous  attack.  The  fort  had  fallen  in  precisely  the  manner 
indicated  so  often  by  myself,  and  to  which  your  attention 
has  been  so  frequently  called,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  ample 
force  provided  by  you  to  meet  the  contingency." 

Colonel  Lamb,  in  his  report,  says  he  had  half  a  mile  of 
land  face  to  defend  with  1,900  men.  He  knew  every  company 
present  and  its  strength.  This  number  included  the  killed, 
wounded,  and  sick. 

To  capture  Fort  Fisher,  the  enemy  lost,  by  their  own 
statement,  1,445  killed,  wounded,  and  missing.  Nineteen 
hundred  Confederates  with  44  guns,  contended  against 
10,000  men  on  shore  and  600  heavy  guns  afloat,  killing  and 
wounding  almost  as  many  of  the  enemy  as  there  were  sol- 
diers in  the  fort,  and  not  surrendering  until  the  last  shot 
was  expended. 

The  garrison  consisted  of  two  companies  of  the  Tenth 
North  Carolina  under  Major  Reilly;  the  Thirty-sixth  North 
Carolina,  Col.  William  Lamb,  ten  companies  ;  four  companies 
of  the  Fortieth  North  Cai^olina ;  Company  D  of  the  First 
North  Carolina  Artillery  Battalion;  Company  C,  Third 
North  Carolina  Artillery  Battalion ;  Company  D,  Thirteenth 
North  Carolina  Artillery  Battalion,  and  the  Naval  detach- 
ment under  Captain  Van  Benthuysen. 

General  Whiting  had  been  assig-ned  to  no  duty  by  General 
Bragg,  although  it  was  his  right  to  command  the  supporting 
troops.  He  determined  to  go  to  the  fort  and  share  its  fate. 
The  commander.  Colonel  Lamb,  offered  to  relinquish  the 
control,  but  General  Whiting  declined  to  take  away  the  glory 
of  the  defense  from  him,  but  remained  with  him  and  fought 


350  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

as  a  volunteer.  It  is  related  that  during  the  fight,  when  one 
hundred  immense  projectiles  were  being  hurled  per  minute  at 
the  fort,  General  Whiting  was  seen  "standing  with  folded 
arms,  smiling  upon  a  400-pound  shell,  as  it  stood  smoking 
and  spinning  like  a  billiard  ball  on  the  sand,  not  twenty  feet 
away  until  it  burst,  and  he  then  moved  quietly  away."  Dur- 
ing the  fight  General  Whiting  saw  the  Federal  flags  planted 
on  the  traverses.  Calling  on  the  troops  to  follow  him,  they 
fought  hand  to  hand  with  clubbed  muskets,  and  one  traverse 
was  taken.  Just  as  he  was  climbing  the  other,  and  had  his 
hand  upon  the  Federal  flag  to  tear  it  down,  he  fell,  receiving 
two  wounds.  Colonel  Lamb,  a  half -hour  later,  fell  with  a 
desperate  wound  through  the  hip.  The  troops  fought  on. 
Lamb,  in  the  hospital,  found  voice  enough,  though  faint  unto 
death,  to  say:  "I  will  not  surrender";  and  Whiting,  lying 
among  the  surgeons  near  by,  responded :  "Lamb,  if  you  die, 
I  will  assume  command,  and  I  will  never  surrender." 

After  the  fort  was  captured  and  General  Whiting  was 
made  prisoner,  he  was  taken  to  Fort  Columbus,  on  Governors 
Island,  and  there  died,  March  10,  1865.  The  fearless  de- 
fender of  the  last  stand  at  Fort  Fisher,  Maj.  James  Reilly,  in 
after  years,  remained  not  far  from  the  scene  of  his  exploits 
until  his  death,  November  5,  1894. 


CAPE  FEAR  PILOTS. 

The  four  years  of  blockade  running,  from  1861  to  1865, 
were  so  crowded  with  incidents  and  adventures  of  an  extraor- 
dinary and  startling  nature  that  each  day  brought  a  new  and 
novel  experience. 

I  recall  my  first  day  under  fire,  the  trembling  knees,  the 
terrifying  scream  of  the  approaching  shells,  the  dread  of 
instant  death.  Again,  the  notable  storm  at  sea  in  which  our 
ship  was  buffetted  and  lashed  by  the  waves  until  the  straining 
steel  plates  cut  the  rivets  and  the  fireroom  was  flooded  and 
the  engines  stopped,  while  the  tempest  tossed  us  helpless  upon 
the  mountainous  waves,  and  all  hope  of  our  lives  was  gone, 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  351 

until  we  were  mercifully  cast  upon  a  reef  which  extends 
about  three  miles  from  Bermuda.  Again,  when  our  party  of 
five  persons,  endeavoring  to  reach  the  Confederacy  in  a  small 
launch  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  was  cast  away  the  second 
day  upon  Green  Turtle  Cay,  an  obscure  island  of  the  Baha- 
mas, where  we  dwelt  in  a  negro's  hut  for  three  weeks,  and 
then  foolishly  risked  our  lives  again  for  two  weeks  at  sea  in 
a  small  boat  which  landed  us  in  the  surf  among  the  man- 
eating  sharks  off  Cape  Canaveral,  in  Florida. 

Another  terrifying  experience  of  my  life  occurred  in  the 
quiet  little  town  of  St.  George,  Bermuda.  It  was  while  our 
ship  was  waiting  in  port  for  the  dark  of  the  moon  to  help  us 
into  the  Confederacy.  Our  captain,  who  succeeded  our  fa- 
vorite Maffitt,  was  addicted  to  gambling  with  others  of  his 
class  afloat  in  the  harbor,  and,  although,  his  poker  parties 
kept  him  busy  until  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  he 
usually  slept  on  shore,  in  a  room  next  to  that  of  a  gentleman 
from  Georgia,  in  his  house  near  my  hotel,  where  I  preferred 
to  stay  while  in  port.  One  night  at  two  o'clock  I  was  awak- 
ened by  a  knock  at  my  door,  at  which,  to  my  amazement, 
stood  our  captain,  gi-eatly  excited,  who  asked  me  to  accom- 
pany him  to  0— 's  house,  "for,"  said  he,  "O—  has  suddenly 
gone  crazy."  I  did  not  stop  to  think  why  the  Captain  had 
asked  me,  a  mere  stripling  of  eighteen  years  of  age,  to  tackle 
a  crazy  man  in  the  dead  of  the  night.  I  went  quickly.  I  re- 
member the  solemn  stillness  of  the  night,  not  a  light  burning, 
not  even  a  sound  of  footsteps  upon  the  quiet  street,  no 
policeman  in  sight  (the  force  consisted  of  two  constables), 
and  as  we  walked  rapidly  towards  our  destination,  the  Cap- 
tain told  me  that  on  reaching  the  house  he  found  he  had  for- 
gotten his  latch-key ;  that  after  knocking  loudly  for  the  porter, 
who,  it  appeared,  was  absent,  he  heard  some  one  coming  down 
the  stairs,  and  a  moment  afterwards  0 —  appeared  in  his 
night  clothes  with  a  lighted  candle  and  a  pistol,  which  he 
snapped  in  the  Captain's  face  and  denounced  him  for  a 
robber.  The  Captain,  who  was  a  big  strong  man,  said  that 
he  had  disarmed  O —  and  with  great  difficulty  got  him  back 


352  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

to  his  room.  And  then,  instead  of  calling  a  doctor,  he  ran 
for  me — for  what  reason,  I  have  never  fathomed. 

I  savt^  at  once  that  O —  was  crazy.  He  glared  at  me 
like  a  wild  beast  and  jumped  from  his  bed  to  attack  me,  but 
the  Captain  threw  him  back,  and  after  getting  him  quiet,  for 
he  was  raving  mad,  asked  me  to  remain  while  he  went  a  half 
mile  away  for  a  doctor.  I  have  never  understood  to  this  day 
why  /  didn't  go  for  the  doctor  and  leave  the  Captain  to  watch  ; 
but,  before  this  reasonable  proposition  entered  my  excited 
mind,  I  found  myself  alone  in  a  big  house  with  a  maniac. 
I  remember  the  Captain's  last  words,  ''Don't  let  him  get  to 
his  dressing  table,  as  I  put  his  pistol  in  that  drawer."  The 
Captain's  footsteps  had  scarcely  died  away  in  the  distance 
upon  the  cobblestones  when  O —  jumped  at  me,  and  in 
sheer  desperation  I  met  him  and  knocked  him  over  the  bed 
and  planted  my  trembling  knees  upon  his  chest.  I  don't 
know  how  long  I  struggled  with  the  man — it  seemed  like 
eternity — but  at  last  I  heard  footsteps  in  the  distance  and 
then  saw  two  persons  climbing  the  stairs.  I  didn't  tarry 
any  longer  than  the  utterance  of  a  few  pointed  remarks  to  the 
Captain,  whose  company  was  subsequently  as  distasteful  to 
me  as  that  of  his  crazy  friend. 

Strangely  enough,  as  I  was  writing  these  reminiscences  of 
long  ago,  a  benevolent  old  gentleman  presented  himself  at 
my  office  door  and  said,  "I  want  to  see  my  old  friend,  Mr. 
Sprunt,  who  was  purser  of  my  ship  fifty  years  ago,  and 
whom  I  have  not  seen  since  then."  It  was  gratifying  to 
see  again  in  the  flesh  my  brother  officer,  Andrew  J.  Forrest^ 
of  Baltimore,  who  was  first  assistant  engineer  with  us  when 
Fort  Fisher  was  captured  and  our  occupation  as  blockade 
runners  terminated.  Among  many  other  incidents  which 
our  meeting  brought  to  mind  was  a  ludicrous  scene  recalled 
by  my  friend.  "Do  you  remember,"  said  Andy,  "how  annoy- 
ing it  was  to  the  Captain  when  his  belated  slumbers,  after 
a  night  at  poker,  were  disturbed  in  the  early  morning  by 
the  usual  holy-stoning  and  washing-down-decks  which  Chief 
Officer  Carrow  was  so  particular  about  ?     Do  you  recall  the 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  353 

occasion  when,  having  finished  breakfast,  we  were  strolling 
about  the  quarter-deck,  and  a  rooster  got  out  of  the  coop  near 
the  galley,  and,  perching  himself  upon  the  bridge-deck  near 
the  Captain's  stateroom,  crowed  and  crowed,  until  with  a 
savage  oath  the  skipper  burst  out  of  the  door  in  his  pajamas 
with  a  big  Colt's  revolver  and  chased  that  rooster  all  over 
the  ship  in  a  rage  that  fairly  choked  us  with  laughter  ?" 

My  friend  tells  me  that  we  two  are  the  only  survivors  of 
the  fifty-two  ofiicers  and  men  upon  the  muster  roll  of  the  old 
ship,  which  was  subsequently  used  as  a  transport  in  the  South 
American  wars. 

The  stirring  scenes  recalled  in  these  reminiscences  oc- 
curred a  half  century  ago.  A  mere  handful  of  those  who  par- 
ticipated in  blockade  running  still  survive,  and  their  hoary 
heads  and  feeble  knees  attest  the  measure  of  their  days. 
One,  whose  moral  excellence  commands  universal  respect,  still 
heeds  the  call  of  the  sea,  and  none  of  his  profession  is  more 
skillful  in  piloting  the  big  steamers  with  their  valuable  car- 
goes through  the  devious  Cape  Fear  channel  to  their  berths 
in  the  city's  harbor.  Fifty  years  ago  he  and  I  were  cap- 
tured, man  and  boy  together,  in  the  same  ship,  under  the 
Confederate  flag ;  and  we  suffered  together  the  privations,  dis- 
comforts, and  trials  of  prisoners  of  war.  Upon  the  return 
of  peace  our  vocations  cemented  a  friendship  which  has  ex- 
tended unbroken  to  the  present  time.  Some  years  ago  he  was 
called  by  the  Master,  who  once  walked  upon  the  sea,  to  the 
higher  service  of  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  in  which  he  has 
been  signally  blessed. 

The  writer,  for  twenty-six  years  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Commissioners  of  Navigation  and  Pilotage,  having  ample 
means  of  observation  at  home  and  abroad,  believes  that  our 
pilots  would  compare  most  favorably  with  any  organization 
of  the  kind  elsewhere  in  all  the  essential  qualifications  of 
this  noble  calling. 

The  story  of  their  wonderful  skill  and  bravery  in  the  time 
of  the  Federal  blockade  has  never  been  written,  because  the 


354  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

survivors  were  modest  men,  and  because  time  obliterated 
from  their  memories  many  incidents  of  that  extraordinary 
epoch  in  their  history. 

Amidst  almost  impenetrable  darkness,  without  lightship 
or  beacon,  the  narrow  and  closely  watched  inlet  was  felt  for 
with  a  deep-sea  lead  as  a  blind  man  feels  his  way  along  a 
familiar  path,  and  even  when  the  enemy's  fire  was  raking  the 
wheel-house,  the  faithful  pilot,  with  steady  hand  and  iron 
nerve,  safely  steered  the  little  fugitive  of  the  sea  to  her 
desired  haven.  It  might  be  said  of  him  as  it  was  told  of 
the  Nantucket  skipper,  that  he  could  get  his  bearings  on  the 
darkest  night  by  a  taste  of  the  lead. 

We  recall  the  names  of  some  of  the  noted  blockade  runners 
and  their  pilots,  so  well  known  in  Smithville  about  fifty 
years  ago:  Columbia,  afterwards  called  the  Lady  Davis, 
C.  C.  Morse;  Giraffe,  afterwards  known  as  the  R.  E.  Lee, 
Archibald  Guthrie;  Fannie,  Henry  Howard;  Hansa,  J.  N. 
Burruss ;  City  of  Petersburg,  Joseph  Bensel ;  Old  Dominion, 
Richard  Dosher ;  Alice,  Joseph  Springs ;  Margaret  and  Jessie, 
Charles  W.  Craig;  Hebe,  George  W.  Burruss;  Advance,  C, 
C.  Morse;  Pet,  T.  W.  Craig;  Atalanta,  Thos.  M.  Thompson; 
Eugenia,  T.  W.  ISTewton;  Ella  and  Annie,  J.  M.  Adkins; 
Banshee,  Thomas  Burruss;  Venus,  R.  Sellers;  Don,  Wil- 
liam St.  George;  Lynx,  J.  W.  Craig;  Let  Her  Be,  J.  T. 
Burruss ;  Little  Hattie,  R.  S.  Grissom ;  Lilian,  Thomas  Gris- 
som ;  North  Heath,  Julius  Dosher ;  Let  Her  Rip,  E.  T.  Bur- 
russ; Beauregard,  J.  W.  Potter;  Owl,  T.  B.  Garrason;  Agnes 
Fry,  Thomas  Dyer;  Kate,  C.  C.  Morse;  Siren,  John  Hill; 
Calypso,  C.  G.  Smith;  Ella,  John  Savage;  Condor,  Thomas 
Brinkman;  Coquette,  E.  T.  Daniels;  Mary  Celeste,  J.  W. 
Anderson ;  Susan  Bierne,  Richard  Dosher. 

Many  other  steamers  might  be  named,  among  them  the 
Britannic,  Emma,  Dee,  Antonica,  Victory,  Granite  City, 
Stonewall  Jackson,  Flora,  Havelock,  Hero,  Eagle,  Duoro, 
Thistle,  Scotia,  Gertrude,  Charleston,  Colonel  Lamb,  Dolphin 
and  Dream,  the  names  of  whose  pilots  may  or  may  not  be 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  355 

among  those  already  recalled.     These  are  noted  here  because 
there  is  no  other  record  of  their  exploits  extant. 

Some  of  the  steamers  which  were  run  ashore  by  the  block- 
aders  may  still  be  seen:  The  Ella  on  Bald  Head,  the 
Spunky  and  the  Georgianna  McCall  on  Caswell  Beach,  the 
Hebe  and  the  Dee  between  Wrightsville  and  Masonboro.  The 
Beauregard  and  the  Venus  lie  stranded  on  Carolina  Beach, 
the  Modern  Greece  near  E'ew  Inlet,  the  Antonica  on  Frying 
Pan  Shoals.  Two  others  lie  near  Lockwood's  Folly  bar ;  and 
others,  whose  names  are  forgotten,  lie  half  buried  in  sands, 
where  they  may  remain  for  centuries  to  come. 

James  W.  Ceaig^  a  Veteraist  Pilot. 

He  is  now  the  Keverend  James  William  Craig,  Methodist 
preacher,  but  I  like  to  think  of  him  as  Jim  Billy,  the  Cape 
Fear  pilot  of  war  times,  on  the  bridge  of  the  swift  Confed- 
erate blockade  runner  Lynx,  commanded  by  the  intrepid 
Captain  Reed,  as  she  races  through  the  blackness  of  night  on 
her  course  west  nor'west,  straight  and  true  for  the  Federal 
fleet  off  ISTew  Inlet,  in  utter  silence,  the  salt  spray  of  the  sea 
smiting  the  faces  of  the  watchers  as  they  gaze  ahead  for  the 
first  sign  of  imminent  danger. 

Soon  there  is  added  to  the  incessant  noise  of  wind  and 
waves  the  ominous  roar  of  the  breakers,  as  the  surf  com- 
plains to  the  shore,  and  the  deep  sea  lead  gives  warning  of 
shoaling  water.  "Half-speed"  is  muttered  through  the 
speaking  tube ;  a  hurried  parley ;  a  recognized  land  fall — for 
Reed  is  a  fine  navigator,  and  "Are  you  ready  to  take  her, 
pilot?"  "Ready,  sir,"  comes  from  Jim  Billy  in  the  dark- 
ness. Then  the  whispered  orders  through  the  tube,  "Slow 
down,"  as  there  looms  ahead  the  first  of  the  dread  monsters 
of  destruction;  "Starboard,"  "Steady."  And  the  little  ship 
glides  past  like  a  phantom,  unseen  as  yet.  Then  "Port," 
"Port,"  "Hard  a'port,"  in  quick  succession,  as  she  almost 
touches  the  second  cruiser.  She  is  now  in  the  thick  of  the 
blockading  squadron ;  and  suddenly,  out  of  the  darkness,  close 
24 


366  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

aboard,  comes  the  hoarse  hail,  "Heave  to,  or  I'll  sink  you," 
followed  bj  a  blinding  glare  of  rockets  and  the  roar  of  heavy 
guns.  The  devoted  little  Confederate  is  now  naked  to  her 
enemies  as  the  glare  of  rockets  and  drummond  lights  from 
many  men-of-war  illuminate  the  chase.  Under  a  pitiless  hail 
of  shot  and  shell  from  every  quarter  she  bounds  forward  full 
speed  ahead,  every  joint  and  rivet  straining,  while  Jim  Billy 
dodges  her  in  and  out  through  a  maze  of  smoke  and  flame  and 
bursting  shells.  The  range  of  Fort  Fisher's  guns  is  yet  a 
mile  away — will  she  make  it  ?  Onward  speeds  the  little  ship, 
for  neither  Reed  nor  Jim  Billy  has  a  thought  of  surrender. 
A  shell  explodes  above  them,  smashing  the  wheelhouse; 
another  shell  tears  away  the  starboard  paddle-box;  and  as 
she  flies,  like  lightning,  past  the  nearest  cruiser,  a  sullen  roar 
from  Colonel  Lamb's  artillery  warns  her  pursuers  that  they 
have  reached  their  limitations ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  gal- 
lant little  ship  crosses  the  bar  and  anchors  under  the  Con- 
federate guns.  The  Captain  and  his  trusty  pilot  shake  hands 
and  go  below,  "to  take  the  oath,"  as  Eeed  described  it — for 
the  strain  must  be  relaxed  by  sleep  or  stimulation.  "A  close 
shave,  Jim,"  was  all  the  Captain  said.  "It  was,  sir,  for 
a  fact,"  was  the  equally  laconic  answer. 

My  shipmate,  Jim  Billy,  is  gTowing  old,  and  so  am  I. 
Our  lives  have  been  united  all  these  years  in  a  bond  which 
death  only  can  divide ;  and  as  we  talk,  as  we  often  do,  about 
old  times  and  those  who  took  part  with  us  in  the  stress  of 
war,  all  of  whom  have  gone  out  upon  the  boundless  tide,  we 
are  thankful  that  we  are  in  the  convoy  of  Him  who  walked 
upon  the  sea,  and  that  we  will  be  guided  to  our  desired  haven 
by  His  good  hand  upon  us.  Some  days  ago  I  drew  out  of 
Jim  Billy  the  following  narrative,  which  I  have  set  down 
as  nearly  as  may  be  in  his  own  words,  and  I  trust  it  may 
serve  to  interest  and  instruct  some  of  the  readers  who  do  not 
often  hear  a  true  sailor's  yarn : 

"I  was  born  in  May,  1840,  and  piloted  my  first  vessel  into 
the  Cape  Fear  Eiver  when  I  was  seventeen  years  of  age.  At 
that  time  Mr.  P.  W.  Fanning,  of  Wilmington,  was  chairman 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  357 

of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  ISTavigation  and  Pilotage, 
and  the  present  custom  of  issuing  branches,  or  licenses,  was 
not  in  vogue. 

"I  acted  under  the  protection  of  my  father,  who  was  a  full 
branch  pilot;  in  other  words,  he  was  permitted  to  carry  in 
vessels  of  any  depth  suitable  for  the  water  then  available.  I 
was  an  apprentice  with  him. 

"When  the  war  broke  out  I  was  twenty-one  years  of  age 
and,  in  view  of  certain  circumstances  favorable  to  my  repu- 
tation, I  was  given  by  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of 
N'avigation  and  Pilotage  a  license  for  twelve  feet,  the  laws 
having  been  changed  a  year  or  two  before  the  war  in  respect 
to  the  method  of  issuing  licenses. 

"My  father,  James  JST.  Craig,  lived  a  short  distance  from 
Fort  Pisher  on  the  river  side  at  a  place  called  Craig's  Land- 
ing, and  his  house  and  landing  were  both  used  later  by  the 
commander  of  Fort  Fisher,  Col.  William  Lamb,  who  was  so 
intimately  engaged  with  my  father  that  he  gave  him  general 
charge  of  the  duty  of  setting  lights  for  the  benefit  of  blockade 
runners,  under  certain  restrictions  which  had  been  provided. 
I  was  therefore  engaged  for  nearly  two  years  after  the  out- 
break of  the  war  in  assisting  my  father,  and  became  more 
familiar  with  the  channel  and  the  approaches  of  the  channel 
than  many  other  pilots  who  had  not  the  opportunity  of  sound- 
ing, as  we  had  frequently,  under  government  instructions. 

"The  first  proposal  made  to  me  to  take  a  ship  through  the 
blockade  was  by  Capt.  E.  C.  Reed,  commander  of  the  cele- 
brated cruiser  Sumter.  This  vessel  had  been  dismantled  of 
her  guns  on  account  of  her  slow  speed  and  general  unfitness 
for  a  cruiser,  after  her  destruction  of  many  vessels  of  the 
enemy,  and  she  was  sent  into  Wilmington  with  a  cargo  of 
war  stores,  conspicuous  among  which  were  two  enormous 
Blakely  guns,  which  were  subsequently  used  in  the  defense  of 
Charleston. 

"After  the  discharge  of  the  cargo  at  Wilmington  the 
Sumter  was  loaded  with  cotton,  and  Captain  Reed  brought 


358  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

her  down  to  Old  Brunswick  landing  and  anchored,  before 
he  made  arrangements  for  the  engagement  of  a  pilot  to  take 
him  out. 

"In  coming  into  the  Cape  Fear  Captain  Reed  had,  through 
a  successful  ruse,  passed  through  the  blockading  fleet  by 
hoisting  the  U.  S.  ensign  and  pretending  to  be  one  of  the 
fleet.  The  blockaders  did  not  discover  his  true  character 
until  he  was  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  consequently 
they  were  very  eager  to  capture  him  on  his  voyage  outward. 

"At  that  time  of  the  tide  it  was  impossible  to  take  over  the 
Eip  Shoal  or  across  either  of  the  bars  a  ship  drawing  more 
than  eleven  feet.  The  Sumter  drew  eleven  feet  of  water  and 
grounded  repeatedly  in  attempting  to  go  out.  Capt.  Reed 
offered  me  $1,000  in  gold  if  I  would  take  the  ship  out  suc- 
cessfully and  reach  Bermuda,  where  he  would  discharge  me 
and  proceed  to  England  with  his  cargo. 

"I  made  several  ineffectual  attempts  to  get  the  Sumter 
outside,  but,  owing  to  the  lack  of  water  and  the  vigilance  of 
the  blockading  fleet,  we  were  baffled  repeatedly.  At  last  I 
took  her  out  successfully  over  the  'New  Inlet  bar,  the  fleet  in 
the  meantime  having  concentrated  at  the  Western  bar,  expect- 
ing to  capture  her  there,  and  Captain  Reed  subsequently  told 
me  that  he  proceeded  to  Bermuda  and  to  England  without 
sighting  a  single  hostile  vessel  during  the  whole  voyage. 

"A  short  time  after  that  I  piloted  the  Steamship  Oi^ion  in 
over  New  Inlet  successfully,  that  vessel  having  arrived  off 
the  bar  without  a  pilot  and,  very  luckily  for  the  ship  as  well 
as  for  me,  hailed  me  while  I  was  setting  some  lights  for 
another  vessel,  the  Cornubia,  ready  to  go  out  in  charge  of 
pilot  C.  C.  Morse. 

"Just  as  Morse  was  passing  us,  he  called  out,  'Don't  take 
your  lights  in  too  soon,  because  if  we  run  afoul  of  a  blockader 
outside,  he  may  run  us  in  again,  and  we  want  the  benefit 
of  the  lights.' 

"Sure  enough,  a  few  minutes  after  the  Coi-nuhia  had 
faded  from  our  sight  beyond  the  bar,  we  were  surprised  by  the 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  TEE  8TATE8  359 

sudden  looming  up  of  another  large  steamer,  whicli  at  first 
we  supposed  was  a  blockader  chasing  the  Cornubia. 

"We  were  still  more  surprised,  and  really  frightened,  when 
they  lowered  a  boat  and  the  boat  pulled  close  up  to  us  in 
the  semi-darkness  and  demanded  to  know  who  we  were,  pilot 
Thomas  Newton  being  with  me.  They  asked  if  we  were 
pilots,  which  we  admitted  was  the  case.  The  voice,  which 
proved  to  be  that  of  the  chief  officer  of  the  blockade  runner 
Orion,  a  very  fine  ship,  then  replied,  "We  have  been  trying  to 
run  into  Charleston,  and  failed  to  do  so.  We  are  groping 
around  for  the  N'ew  Inlet  bar.  Will  you  take  us  in  ?"  We  at 
once  agreed  and  proceeded  to  the  ship  and  brought  her  in 
over  the  bar  and  anchored  her  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher 
in  safety. 

"Strangely  enough,  the  captain  of  the  Orion,  who  claimed 
to  be  a  Baltimorean,  recognized  me,  and  reminded  me  that 
I  had  taken  him  over  the  bar  before  the  war,  when  he  com- 
manded a  schooner  from  Baltimore. 

"Some  months  afterwards  a  very  fine  blockade  runner 
called  the  Don,  under  command  of  Captain  Roberts  (whose 
real  name  was  Hobart,  a  son  of  the  Earl  of  Buckingham- 
shire, and  a  post  captain  in  the  British  Navy,  who  had  ob- 
tained leave  of  absence  in  order  to  try  his  skill  at  blockade 
running),  was  brought  successfully  to  Wilmington  by  pilot 
St.  George,  who  was  there  taken  sick,  and  I  was  requested 
to  assume  his  place. 

"On  my  return  to  Wilmington  in  the  Don,  I  relinquished 
this  vessel  to  her  former  pilot,  St.  George,  and  made  a  con- 
tract with  the  agent  in  Wilmington  of  a  firm  which  owned  a 
number  of  blockade  runners — a  notable  one  being  the  Hansa 
— to  pilot  any  vessels  which  he  might  designate  and  be  sub- 
ject to  his  orders  at  any  moment,  the  term  of  engagement 
being  three  months. 

"Immediately  afterwards,  I  was  ordered  to  proceed  to 
Nassau  in  the  blockade  runner  Fanny  (formerly  the  Orion), 
and  report  to  Captain  Watters,  of  the  blockade  runner  Annie, 
for  duty  on  that  ship. 


360  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"I  remember  that  we  left  in  the  Fanny  on  Saturday  night 
and  arrived  in  Nassau  before  daylight  on  Tuesday  morning, 
where  I  found  the  Annie  fully  loaded  and  ready  for  sea  and 
waiting  for  me.  We  accordingly  left  about  4  o'clock  that  af- 
ternoon and  arrived  without  incident  inside  the  Cape  Fear 
bar  on  the  Friday  night  following. 

"I  made  a  second  voyage  through  the  blockade  in  the  Annie, 
passing  within  a  cable  length  of  two  of  the  Federal  fleet  that 
failed  to  observe  us. 

"We  again  loaded  the  Annie  in  Nassau  and  cleared  for 
Wilmington,  but  fell  in  with  a  hurricane  shortly  afterwards, 
and  were  obliged  to  heave  to  for  about  forty  hours,  and  so 
lost  our  reckoning ;  failing  to  get  observations  for  three  days, 
we  waited  until  the  gale  subsided,  and  then  anchored  the  ship 
in  smooth  water,  by  a  kedge,  until  the  Captain  succeeded 
in  getting  an  observation  of  the  North  Star,  by  which  he 
worked  out  his  position.  We  then  shaped  our  course  straight 
for  the  blockade  fleet  off  Fort  Fisher. 

"At  that  time,  and  subsequently,  it  was  the  custom  for 
the  flag  ship  of  the  blockading  squadron  to  carry  a  large 
light,  and,  this  being  the  only  one  visible,  often  served  the 
purpose  of  guiding  the  blockade  runners  until  they  could  get 
the  bearings  of  the  Mound  Light. 

"On  this  particular  night  of  May  6,  1864,  the  Confeder- 
ate iron-clad  ram  Ealeigh,  commanded  by  Lieut.  J.  Pem- 
broke Jones,  and  accompanied  by  two  small  wooden  gimboats 
named  the  Yadkin  and  the  Equator,  had  come  out  from  the 
river  and  attacked  the  blockading  squadron.  We  were,  of 
course,  unaware  of  the  circumstances  and  I  came  very  near 
running  afoul  of  the  Raleigh  outside  of  the  bar,  but,  suppos- 
ing him  to  be  one  of  the  blockaders,  got  out  of  his  way  as 
quickly  as  possible. 

"This  Confederate  flotilla  returned  to  the  river  next  day, 
and  the  Raleigh  unfortunately  grounded  on  the  Rip  and 
broke  her  back,  and  remained  for  the  rest  of  the  war  a  most 
dangerous  obstruction  to  vessels  passing  that  shoal. 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  361 

"My  term  of  three  montlis'  service  having  expired,  I  was 
proceeding  in  my  skiff  from  Craig's  Landing  to  Wilmington 
when  I  was  overtaken  by  a  very  svdft  blockade  runner,  with 
two  rakish  funnels,  a  perfect  model  of  its  kind,  called  the 
Lynx,  and,  having  been  given  a  tow  line,  climbed  aboard  and 
found,  to  my  gToat  surprise  and  delight,  that  the  ship  was 
commanded  by  my  old  friend.  Captain  Eeed,  who  imme- 
diately requested  that  I  would  arrange  to  go  with  him,  as  his 
engagement  of  a  pilot  was  only  for  the  voyage  inward. 

"To  this  I  consented,  on  condition  that  General  Whiting 
would  approve  it,  and  I  received  a  few  days  afterwards  a 
telegram  to  go  on  board  the  Lynx  at  Fort  Fisher.  I  was  in 
a  hurricane  on  this  ship,  in  which  she  fared  badly,  her  paddle- 
boxes,  sponsons,  and  bridge-deck  having  been  partly  washed 
away;  but  we  at  last  limped  into  Bermuda,  and,  after  re- 
pairing damages,  proceeded  again  to  Wilmington. 

"The  longest  chase  of  which  I  was  a  witness  during  the 
war  occurred  while  I  was  on  the  Lynx,  which  was  chased  for 
fifteen  hours  by  that  very  fast  cruiser,  Fort  Jachson.  The 
Fort  Jackson's  log  and  official  report  subsequently  showed 
that  she  was  making  sixteen  knots  an  hour,  which  at  that  time 
was  considered  phenomenal  speed  (the  average  blockade  run- 
ner seldom  exceeding  fourteen  knots  an  hour),  and  on  this 
occasion  I  remember  that  the  safety  valves  of  the  Lynx  were 
weighted  down  by  the  iron  tops  of  the  coal  bunkers,  which 
of  course  imperiled  the  life  of  every  one  on  board,  but  in- 
creased the  speed  of  the  Lynx  to  more  than  sixteen  knots  an 
hour  and  enabled  her  ultimately  to  escape. 

"After  making  two  round  passages  in  the  Lynx  and  run- 
ning the  blockade  four  times  in  this  vessel,  several  times  under 
fire,  I  joined  at  Wilmington  the  Confederate  steamer  Lilian, 
under  the  following  peculiar  circumstances : 

"Quite  a  number  of  the  Wilmington  pilots  had  been  cap- 
tured by  the  enemy,  and  the  force  available  for  ships  waiting 
in  Bermuda  and  ISTassau,  belonging  to  the  Confederate  Gov- 
ernment, was  in  consequence  greatly  reduced.     The  reg-ular 


362  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

pilot  of  the  Lilian  was  Thomas  Grissom,  and  I  was  one  of 
four  extra  pilots  (the  three  others  being  Joseph  Thompson, 
James  Bell,  and  Charles  Craig),  who  were  ordered  by  General 
^Yhiting  to  proceed  to  Bermuda  and  take  charge  of  certain 
ships  to  be  designated  by  Maj.  Norman  S.  Walker,  the  Con- 
federate agent  at  that  port. 

"Trouble  began  before  we  got  outside.  An  armed  barge 
from  the  fleet  had  come  close  inside  the  Western  bar  and  lay 
in  our  track  in  the  channel,  and,  immediately  upon  our  ap- 
proach, sent  up  a  rocket  and  fired  a  gun,  which  was  instantly 
answered  by  the  whole  fleet  outside,  and  I  remember  that  we 
crossed  the  bar  in  a  bright  flash  of  drummond  lights  and 
rockets  which  made  the  night  as  bright  as  day.  Every  one  of 
the  blockaders  was  firing  at  or  over  us  as  we  headed  out  to 
sea,  and  when  next  morning  dawned,  which  was  Sunday,  we 
had  just  succeeded  in  dropping  the  last  of  the  cruisers,  which 
had  chased  us  all  night. 

"We  were  congratulating  ourselves  after  breakfast  that 
morning  that  we  would  have  a  clear  sea  towards  Bermuda — 
and  by  the  way,  the  sea  was  as  smooth  as  glass — ^when  the 
lookout  in  the  crow's  nest  reported  a  vessel  of  war  ahead, 
shortly  afterwards  another  on  the  starboard  bow,  and  a  little 
later  a  third  on  our  port  bow,  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  fourth 
one  on  our  beam.  We  had  unfortunately  run  into  the  second 
line  of  blockaders,  called  the  Gulf  Squadron,  and  it  was  not 
more  than  two  hours  before  they  were  all  in  range  and  pelting 
us  with  bomb  shells. 

"The  chase  lasted  until  half  past  one  in  the  afternoon, 
when  a  shell  from  the  cruiser  on  our  starlx)ard  beam,  called 
the  Gettysburg,  formerly  the  blockade  runner  Margaret  and 
Jessie,  struck  us  below  the  water  line,  making  a  large  hole 
through  which  the  water  rushed  like  a  mill-stream. 

"All  our  efforts  to  stop  the  leak  with  blankets  were  unavail- 
ing. We  had  previously  thrown  over  our  deck  load  of  cotton, 
but  it  was  impossible  to  reach  the  hole  from  the  inside  as  the 
hold  was  jam  full  of  cotton;  and  in  a  short  time  the  vessel 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  363 

began  to  steer  badly  and  gradually  sank  almost  to  the  level 
of  the  deck.  Finding  further  efforts  to  escape  utterly  fruit- 
less, the  captain  stopped  the  ship  and  surrendered  to  the 
boats  which  immediately  surrounded  us. 

"I  remember  that  when  the  ship  was  hove  to  and  the  Fed- 
eral officers  came  on  board,  our  sullen  and  dejected  com- 
mander was  standing  on  the  starboard  paddle-box,  with  his 
arms  folded  and  his  back  turned  to  the  approaching  Federals, 
when  one  of  them,  with  a  drawn  sword,  approached  and  asked 
if  he  was  in  command  of  the  ship.  Captain  Martin  responded 
with  an  oath:  ''I  was  in  command,  but  I  suppose  you  are 
Captain  now." 

"Although  every  effort  had  been  made  to  escape,  those  of 
us  who  knew  Captain  Maffitt,  the  former  commander  of  the 
Lilian,  regretted  very  much  his  absence  on  this  occasion,  as 
he  would  most  likely  have  been  more  fortunate  in  getting 
away. 

"Knowing  how  eager  the  Federals  were  to  identify  the 
pilot  of  the  ship,  they  being  in  blissful  ignorance  that  there 
were  no  fewer  than  five  Wilmington  pilots  on  board,  we 
all  agreed  to  personate  firemen  or  members  of  the  crew,  and 
succeeded  in  passing  ourselves  as  such.  Subsequently  all 
of  us  escaped  except  the  ship's  pilot,  who  was  detained  at 
Point  Lookout  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

"Our  ship's  company  numbered  forty-eight  men,  and  now, 
after  a  lapse  of  forty-eight  years,  we  two,  James  Sprunt, 
purser,  and  J.  W.  Craig,  pilot,  are  the  only  survivors  of 
them  all.^ 

"After  our  escape  from  prison,  we  made  our  way  to  Hali- 
fax, Nova  Scotia,  through  the  medium  of  some  gold  coins, 
which  I  fortunately  kept  next  to  my  body  in  a  waist  band 
and  which  paid  the  passage  of  four  of  my  companions,  in- 
cluding Mr.  Sprunt.  I  joined  the  steamer  Bat  at  Halifax, 
and  proceeded  as  pilot  of  her  to  Wilmington.  When  off  the 
bar,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  blockading  fleet,  which  was  firing 
heavily  upon  us,  the  Captain  lost  his  nerve,  and,  notwith- 

iMr.  Craig  has  since  died. 


364  CAFE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

standing  my  expostulations,  persisted  in  stopping  the  Bat. 
The  cause  of  the  Captain's  excitement  was  due  to  this  re- 
markable incident :  One  of  our  sailors  was  a  survivor  of  the 
desperate  battle  between  the  Alabama  and  the  Kearsarge  off 
Cherbourg  some  months  before,  serving  on  the  Alabama,  but, 
instead  of  proving  to  be,  as  might  be  expected,  a  very  brave 
man,  under  the  fire  of  the  blockading  fleet  he  became  terrified 
and  hid  himself  as  far  forward  under  the  turtleback  in  the 
eyes  of  our  ship  as  he  could  squeeze  himself.  During  the 
firing  of  the  fleet  a  shot  struck  the  exact  spot  where  this  poor 
fellow  was  hiding  and  cut  off  his  leg,  causing  him  to  utter 
such  shrieks  as  to  demoralize  the  Captain,  who  ignobly 
stopped  and  anchored  his  ship  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy, 
when  he  might  just  as  well  have  gone  on,  with  less  risk  of 
destruction.  The  ship  that  boarded  us  that  night  was  the 
U.  S.  steamer  Montgomery. 

"For  the  second  time  I  was  made  a  prisoner  of  war  and  un- 
der the  following  circumstances,  which  I  have  never  men- 
tioned but  once. 

"Before  I  became  engaged  in  the  blockade  running  service, 
I  was  acting  as  mate  on  the  Confederate  steamer  Flora  Mac- 
donald,  a  transport  on  the  Cape  Fear  River,  and  when  the 
Confederate  privateer  Retribution  sent  into  Wilmington  a 
prize  schooner,  which  she  had  captured  at  sea,  in  charge  of 
one  of  the  Retributions  officers  named  Jordan,  who  had 
shipped  with  Capt.  Joseph  Price  in  Wilmington,  I  assisted 
in  towing  that  vessel  from  the  bar  to  Wilmington,  and  of 
course  saw  much  of  Jordan. 

"When  I  was  captured  by  the  Montgomery,  I  was  taken  to 
Portsmouth  l^avy  Yard,  where  we  were  boarded  by  a  Federal 
officer  in  a  captain's  uniform,  who  proved  to  be  none  other 
than  my  quondam  Confederate  friend  Jordan,  who  had  gone 
over  to  the  enemy,  and  who  immediately  recognized  me  and 
informed  against  me. 

"I  was  then  put  in  irons  and  sent  on  board  the  U.  S.  man- 
of-war  Sabine,  where  I  was  most  kindly  treated  by  its  com- 
mander, Captain  Loring,  and  while  a  prisoner  on  his  ship  I 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  365 

was  repeatedly  approached  bj  the  Federal  officers,  who  offered 
to  pay  any  sum  I  would  name  if  I  would  join  their  fleet  off 
Fort  Fisher  and  take  part  as  a  pilot  in  their  attack  against  my 
home.  I  told  them  that  the  United  States  Government  did 
not  have  enough  money  to  induce  me  to  accept  such  a  prop- 
osition, and  I  accordingly  remained  a  prisoner  at  Point 
Lookout  until  after  the  war  was  over. 

"I  may  add  that  while  I  was  a  prisoner  on  the  Sahine,  two 
of  the  Cape  Fear  pilots,  C.  C.  Morse  and  John  Savage,  were 
brought  on  board  as  prisoners,  under  suspicion  of  being  pilots, 
and,  although  they  were  intimate  friends  of  mine,  I  took 
particular  pains  to  treat  them  as  total  strangers  and  paid  no 
attention  to  them,  lest  it  might  get  them  into  further  trouble. 
They  were  much  relieved  when  they  discovered  my  purpose. 
Savage  was  subsequently  released,  but  Morse,  having  been 
identified  later  by  some  other  means,  was  made  a  prisoner 
with  me  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

"The  monotony  of  prison  life  affords  so  few  incidents  that 
my  experience  is  hardly  worth  recalling,  and  yet  I  remember 
some  diversions,  which  gave  us  much  merriment  at  the  time. 

"While  our  friends  of  the  Lilian  were  confined  for  several 
weeks  in  a  casemate  of  Fort  Macon,  that  garrison  consisted  of 
what  the  Yankees  called  the  First  Regiment  of  N'orth  Caro- 
lina Volunteers.  These  men  were  known  to  us,  however,  as 
'Buffaloes,'  and  they  were  a  mean  lot,  as  can  be  imagined 
from  their  having  turned  against  their  native  State  in  time 
of  gTeat  stress  of  war.  Every  day  an  officer  and  guard  took 
us  outside  our  gloomy  casemate  and  permitted  us  to  stretch 
our  legs  along  the  beach,  while  we  gazed  with  longing  eyes 
across  the  intervening  sound  to  Dixie's  Land.  The  marsh 
grass  was  full  of  sand  fiddlers,  which  scuttled  away  at  our 
approach.  I  pretended  to  be  surprised  and  asked  the  guard 
what  these  things  were,  saying  that  they  would  be  called 
lobsters  in  my  country  if  they  were  much  larger.  The  old 
renegade  looked  at  me  with  a  most  contemptuous  expression 
and  replied :  'You  know  what  they  are ;  you've  got  millions 
of  them  at  Smithville,  whar  you  come  from.' 


366  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"Another  daily  experience  was  the  persistent,  though  un- 
successful, effort  of  the  officer  of  the  day  to  tease  out  of  our 
young  purser,  James  Sprunt,  whom  he  thought  an  easy  mark 
on  account  of  his  youth  (17  years),  betrayal  of  our  pilot, 
little  dreaming  that  we  were  five  Wilmington  pilots. 

"A  warm  attachment  began  in  that  prison  life  between 
Mr.  Sprunt  and  myself,  which  has  been  true  and  steadfast 
through  all  these  intervening  years.  We  little  thought  then 
that  our  lives  would  be  so  long  united  in  the  bonds  of  Chris- 
tian fellowship  and  commercial  enterprise. 

"During  my  subsequent  confinement  on  the  Sabine  as  a 
prisoner  of  war,  a  large  number  of  blockade  runners  who  had 
been  captured  at  sea  were  brought  to  that  school-ship  for 
confinement,  and  Captain  Loring  tried  in  every  way  to  sur- 
prise those  suspected  of  being  pilots  into  an  admission  of  the 
fact.  One  fine  day,  while  the  prisoners  were  lying  on  the 
deck,  he,  looking  like  an  old  sea  dog,  bluff  and  hearty,  paced 
up  and  dowQ  among  them,  and  suddenly,  turning  on  his  heel, 
he  called  out:  'All  you  North  Carolinians  stand  up  quick!' 
I  cast  my  eyes  over  a  number  of  our  pilots,  fearing  they 
would  be  taken  by  this  surprise  and  betray  themselves,  but 
not  a  man  stirred,  and  old  Loring,  who  was  really  a  good 
fellow  and  kind  to  us,  went  on  his  way. 

"I  hope  it  may  not  be  amiss,  in  the  conclusion  of  these 
reminiscences,  to  allude  to  the  fact  that,  although  I  have 
been  all  these  years  engaged  as  a  Cape  Fear  pilot,  in  the 
duties  of  my  vocation,  it  has  pleased  God  to  call  me  also  to 
the  higher  duty  of  preaching  His  gospel,  as  a  Methodist 
minister,  and  to  make  me  the  humble  instrument,  in  His 
hands,  of  guiding  some  of  my  fellow  men  to  their  eternal 
rest,  as  I  have  guided  the  ships  to  their  haven. 

"There  was  a  moral  lesson,  to  those  who  heeded,  in  the 
devious  path  of  our  hunted  fugitives  of  the  sea  in  war  time, 
for  the  Christian  warfare  is  a  running  fight  through  many 
adversaries  of  the  soul,  and  if  we  will  but  follow  the  lead  of 
the  Great  Pilot,  He  will  bring  us  safe  at  last  to  'an  anchor 
within  the  vale,  whither  our  forerunner  is  already  entered.' 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  367 

"There  is  a  beautiful  figure  in  this  Scripture,  which  few 
landsmen  recognize.  The  approach  by  sailing  vessels  in 
the  olden  time  to  the  inlets  of  the  Mediterranean  Sea  was 
often  baffled  bj  adverse  winds,  or  calms ;  a  little  boat  was  then 
lowered,  which  carried  into  the  harbor  a  kedge  anchor  that 
was  dropped  overboard.  To  this  small  anchor  was  attached 
a  line  by  which  the  vessel  was  warped  by  the  windlass  into 
the  haven.  The  man  who  carried  the  anchor  in  was  the  fore- 
runner, and,  in  a  figure.  He  is  Christ,  the  Captain  of  our 
Salvation;  the  line  is  the  line  of  faith,  and  the  man  at  the 
windlass  is  a  human  soul  who  trusts  in  God." 

Capt.  Daniel  W.  Lee. 

A  few  weeks  ago  I  spent  a  pleasant  day  with  Capt. 
Daniel  W.  Lee,  in  Virginia,  the  sailor  nephew  of  the  illus- 
trious leader  of  the  Lost  Cause,  who  served  as  an  ofiicer  on 
board  the  C.  S.  cruiser  Chickamauga,  which,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Capt.  John  Wilkinson,  spread  consternation  up 
and  down  the  JSTorthern  coast  during  the  last  ninety  days  of 
the  war. 

Across  the  historic  Eappahannock  lay  the  famous  town  of 
Fredericksburg,  the  home  of  Washington  and  of  Mercer,  the 
Cradle  of  American  Independence,  so  often  swept  by  fire 
and  sword  in  the  scourge  of  war.  Beyond  this,  like  two  great 
armies,  were  the  serried  ranks  of  40,000  Confederate  and 
Federal  dead,  waiting  for  the  trumpet  call ;  and  farther  still, 
the  ancient  house  of  Brompton  on  Marye's  Heights,  around 
which  the  iron  hail  and  storm  of  battle  swept,  leaving  many 
thousand  bullet-scars  which  time  has  not  effaced. 

From  these  familiar  scenes  which  fill  the  contemplative 
mind  with  sad  emotions.  Captain  Lee  turned  with  kindling 
eyes  to  the  recital  of  his  daring  runs  through  the  Cape  Fear 
blockade,  and  courteously  inquired  for  the  welfare  of  his 
old  shipmates  at  Wilmington  and  Southport,  nearly  all  of 
whom  have  gone  out  on  their  last  voyage.  With  characteris- 
tic modesty  he  declined  to  write  a  narrative  of  his  war-time 
experience;  but  Captain  Wilkinson's  narration  of  cruises  in 


368  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

which  Captain  Lee  was  engaged  as  a  subordinate  will  serve 
to  connect  the  sea  life  of  this  distinguished  gentlemen  with 
a  unique  epoch  in  Cape  Fear  history. 

Pilot  Bueeiss. 

A  familiar  face  and  figure  in  the  strenuous  days  of  1861 
to  1866  was  Pilot  l^ed  Burriss,  of  Smithville.  He  was 
reckoned  one  of  the  coolest  and  bravest  of  men  under  fire  and 
also  a  pilot  of  great  ability.  I  recall  a  characteristic  story  of 
Burriss.  When  Captain  Reed  of  the  Sumter  roused  him 
from  a  deep  sleep  with  the  exclamation,  "!N"ed,  we  are  sur- 
rounded by  the  Yankees  and  cannot  escape ;  we  must  either 
be  sunk  or  run  ashore,"  Burriss  rubbed  his  eyes  and  remarked 
in  a  matter  of  fact  tone,  "Well,  I  guess  I'd  better  put  on  a 
clean  shirt."  For  years  after  the  war  he  held  a  steady  en- 
gagement as  pilot  on  the  Clyde  steamers,  and  when  he  gave 
it  up  his  employers  parted  with  him  regretfully,  because  they 
regarded  him  as  a  most  trustworthy  and  capable  man.  Mr. 
Burriss  always  inspired  his  shipmates  with  confidence.  His 
quiet,  kindly  disposition  and  his  well  known  skill  made  many 
^i^ie^^^s.i  Captain  Steele. 

I  recall  an  instance  of  extraordinary  nerve  on  the  part  of 
Captain  Steele,  of  the  blockade  runner  Banshee,  who  found 
himself  at  daylight  close  alongside  a  Federal  cruiser.  The 
captain  of  the  warship  Nyplion  simply  had  the  Banshee  in 
the  hollow  of  his  hand,  and  desiring  to  capture  this  valuable 
prize  without  the  risk  of  sinking  her  aiid  thereby  losing  the 
prize  money,  he  commanded  Steele  to  heave  to  immediately, 
or  he  would  sink  him.  Steele,  standing  on  the  paddle-box, 
presented  a  ludicrous  spectacle  as  he  coolly  shouted  back 
that  he  didn't  have  time  to  stop,  because  he  was  in  a  hurry. 
Thereupon  issued  a  cross  fire  of  vituperation,  while  Steele's 
engineers  were  piling  on  steam  in  a  desperate  effort  to  escape. 
The  Federal  commander,  still  unwilling  to  destroy  his  prize 
and  lose  its  value,  continued  to  threaten,  until  he  saw  the 
Banshee  gradually  dravdng  away  from  him,  when  he  shot 

iPilot  Burriss  has  since  died. 


THE  WAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES 


369 


away  one  of  her  masts  and  raked  the  little  ship  from  stem  to 
stern  with  grape  shot,  while  Steele's  men  were  lying  flat  on 
the  deck  for  shelter.  The  quartermaster  abandoned  the 
wheel  and  the  little  ship  ran  into  the  breakers,  but  was 
brought  safely  through  by  her  intrepid  pilot,  Tom  Burriss, 
a  brother  of  N"ed  Burriss. 

John  William  Anderson. 

John  William  Anderson  was  a  Smithville  mariner,  en- 
gaged, as  all  of  them  were,  in  running  the  blockade.  His 
name  will  live  in  the  hearts  and  minds  of  the  lower  Cape 
Fear  people,  because  his  last  voyage  splendidly  illustrated 
the  heroism  and  fidelity  to  duty  of  a  Cape  Fear  pilot.  Al- 
though I  remember  the  incident  in  all  its  details,  I  prefer  to 
relate  it  in  the  words  of  the  late  Alfred  Moore  Waddell,  the 
gifted  writer  of  Wilmington,  whose  spirit  has  also  taken  its 
"flight  to  the  undiscovered  country" : 

"Among  these  blockade  runners  in  1863  was  a  steamer 
called  the  Mary  Celeste.  Her  pilot  was  John  William  An- 
derson, of  Smithville,  and  he,  like  all  the  best  pilots,  was  as 
familiar  with  the  channels  over  the  bars,  both  at  I^ew  Inlet 
(where  Fort  Fisher  stood,  and  which  is  now  closed)  and  at 
the  mouth  of  the  river,  as  a  farmer  is  with  the  roads  over  his 
land.  One  night,  in  the  month  of  August,  1863,  Anderson 
took  the  Mary  Celeste  out  over  New  Inlet  bar,  and,  gliding 
past  the  blockading  fleet,  which  was  always  watching  for 
such  valuable  prizes,  escaped  under  cover  of  the  darkness 
and  reached  Nassau  in  safety.  He  only  escaped  one  danger 
to  run  into  another  more  fearful.  Yellow  fever  was  raging 
there,  and  the  victims  of  that  scourge  were  most  numerous 
among  the  sailors  and  other  non-residents.  Anderson  was 
stricken  with  the  fever  just  before  the  Mary  Celeste  weighed 
anchor  for  her  return  voyage,  and  by  the  time  she  neared 
the  North  Carolina  coast  it  was  evident  he  must  die. 

"An  entrance  through  the  blockading  fleet  could,  of  course, 
only  be  made  between  sunset  and  sunrise,  and,  as  Anderson 
was  the  only  Cape  Fear  pilot  on  board,  great  anxiety  pre- 


370  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

vailed  as  to  the  safety  of  the  ship.  At  last  the  critical  hour 
arrived,  when,  in  the  uncertain  light  of  the  dawn,  they  found 
that  they  had  run  near  a  blockader  and  had  been  seen  by  her. 
The  blockader  opened  fire  on  the  Mar^j  Celeste  and  pursued 
her.  Like  a  scared  greyhound  she  made  straight  for  New 
Inlet  bar,  then  visible  several  miles  away,  and  after  her 
steamed  the  blockader,  from  whose  bow  gun  every  few 
minutes  would  leap  a  flame  followed  by  a  shell  which  would 
pass  over  or  through  her  rigging  and  burst  in  the  air,  or, 
striking  the  sea,  would  flash  a  great  column  of  spray  towards 
the  sky.  By  this  time  poor  Anderson  was  dying  in  his  berth, 
and  the  officers  of  the  ship  began  to  realize  the  terrible  situa- 
tion in  which  they  found  themselves,  with  the  enemy  in  pur- 
suit and  before  them  a  bar  over  which  it  was  almost  certain 
destruction  for  any  one  aboard  except  Anderson  to  attempt 
to  steer  the  Mary  Celeste.  Anderson  heard  the  firing  and 
knew  what  it  meant  before  they  told  him.  He  knew,  too, 
that  he  was  dying  and  had  no  further  interest  in  this  world's 
affairs,  but  the  sense  of  duty  asserted  itself  even  in  the 
presence  of  death. 

"He  was  too  weak  to  go  up,  but  he  demanded  to  be  taken 
on  deck  and  carried  to  the  man  at  the  wheel.  Two  strong 
sailors  lifted  him  and  carried  him  up  to  the  wheelhouse. 
They  stood  him  on  his  feet  and  supported  him  on  either  side. 
His  face  was  as  yellow  as  gold,  and  his  eyes  shone  like  stars. 
He  fixed  his  unearthly  gaze  upon  the  long  line  of  breakers 
ahead,  then  upon  the  dim  line  of  pines  that  stood  higher 
than  the  surrounding  forest,  then  at  the  compass  for  a  mo- 
ment, and  then  said  calmly,  'Hard  starboard !'  Quickly  re- 
volved the  wheel  under  the  hands  of  the  helmsman ;  slowly 
veered  the  stem  of  the  rushing  steamer,  and  a  shell  hurtled 
over  the  pilot-house  and  went  singing  toward  the  beach. 

"Anderson  kept  his  gaze  fixed  on  the  breakers,  and  in  the 
same  calm  tone  said,  'Steady.'  On  ploughed  the  steamer 
straight  for  her  goal,  while  the  group  of  men  in  the  pilot-house 
stood  in  profound  silence,  but  fairly  quivering  with  sup- 
pressed excitement.    The  blockader,  finally  seeing  that  it  was 


TEE  ^YAR  BETWEEN  THE  STATES  371 

impossible  to  overtake  her  and  not  desiring  to  come  within 
range  of  the  big  guns  of  Fort  Fisher,  abandoned  the  chase 
with  a  farewell  shot,  and  the  Mary  Celeste,  now  nearly  on  the 
bar,  slacked  her  pace  a  little,  and  nothing  but  the  swash  of  the 
sea  and  the  trembling  thud  of  the  ship  under  the  force  of  the 
engine  could  be  heard.  The  dying  pilot,  though  failing  fast, 
continued  in  the  same  calm  tone  to  give  his  directions.  They 
were  now  crossing  the  bar,  but  had  passed  the  most  dangerous 
point,  when  he  bent  his  head  as  if  to  cough,  and  the  horri- 
fied men  saw  the  last  fatal  symptom  which  immediately  pre- 
cedes dissolution — black  vomit — and  knew  that  the  end  was 
very  near.  He  knew  it,  too,  but  gave  no  sign  of  fear  and 
continued  at  his  post.  His  earthly  home  was  now  visible  to 
his  natural  eye — ^he  was  almost  there  where  loved  ones 
awaited  his  coming — but  nearer  still  to  his  spiritual  vision 
was  the  'house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.' 
At  last  the  bar  was  safely  crossed,  smooth  water  was  reached, 
the  engine  slowed  down,  the  Mary  Celeste  glided  silently 
into  the  harbor,  stopped  her  headway  gradually,  lay  still, 
loosed  her  anchor  chains,  dropped  her  anchor,  and  as  the  last 
loud  rattle  of  her  cable  ceased,  the  soul  of  John  William 
Anderson  took  its  flight  to  the  undiscovered  country." 


The  Chase.^ 

[After  Homeward  Bound.] 

Freed  from  the  lingering  chase,  in  devious  ways 

Upon  the  swelling  tides 

Swiftly  the  Lilian  glides 
Through  hostile  shells  and  eager  foemen  past; 
The  lynx-eyed  pilot  gazing  through  the  haze, 
And  engines  straining,  "far  hope  dawns  at  last." 

Now  falls  in  billows  deep  the  welcome  night 

Upon  white  sands  below; 

While  signal  lamps  aglow 
Seek  out  Fort  Fisher's  distant  answering  gleams. 
The  blockade  runner's  keen,  supreme  delight, — 
Dear  Dixie  Land,  the  haven  of  our  dreams! 

— James  Sprunt. 


iFirst  published  in  the  North  Carolina  Booklet. 

25 


Blockade  Running 

FINANCIAL  ESTIMATES  OF  BLOCKADE 
RUNNING. 

Some  idea  of  the  mag-nitude  of  the  blockade  running  in- 
terests involving  the  Cape  Fear  alone  may  be  gathered  from 
Badeau's  statement  that  "in  little  more  than  a  year  before 
the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  the  ventures  of  British  capitalists 
and  speculators  with  Wilmington  alone  had  amounted  to 
sixty-six  million  dollars  in  gold,  and  sixty-five  million  dollars 
worth  of  cotton  in  gold  had  been  exported  in  return." 

In  the  same  period  397  steamers  had  run  the  blockade  at 
Wilmington.  Eidpath  says  that  the  number  of  prizes  of 
blockade  runners  made  during  the  four  years'  war  was 
1,504  vessels  captured,  stranded,  or  destroyed. 

Admiral  Porter,  who  directed  the  naval  operations  against 
Fort  Fisher,  says  that  a  telegraphic  dispatch  from  General 
Lee  to  Colonel  Lamb,  at  Fort  Fisher,  was  captured,  which 
read  as  follows:  "If  Fort  Fisher  falls,  I  shall  have  to 
evacuate  Richmond." 

In  "Tales  of  the  Cape  Fear  Blockade,"  published  in  the 
North  Carolina  Booklet,  February  10,  1902,  page  20,  under 
the  caption  "Financial  Estimates,"  the  writer  said: 

"I  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  an  approximate  estimate 
of  the  value  of  supplies  brought  by  blockade  runners  into  the 
Confederacy  during  the  four  years'  war,  nor  the  amount  of 
the  losses  by  shipowners  who  failed  to  make  a  successful 
voyage  through  the  Federal  fleet.  I  have,  however,  carefully 
computed  the  actual  sum  realized  by  the  United  States 
Government  from  public  sales  of  prizes,  recorded  by  Ad- 
miral Porter  in  his  Naval  History  of  the  Civil  War,  which 
aggTegates  $21,759,595.05  ;  to  which  may  reasonably  be  added 
$10,000,000  for  prizes  to  my  knowledge  not  included  in  this 
report,  and  $10,000,000  more  for  valuable  ships  and  cargoes 
stranded  or  destroyed  by  design  or  accident  while  attempting 
to  escape  from  the  blockading  squadron.     This  total  of  $42,- 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  373 

000,000  represents  only  a  part,  perhaps  one-half,  of  the  capital 
invested.  Many  successful  steamers  ran  up  their  profits  into 
millions.  A  steamer  carrying  1,000  bales  of  cotton  some- 
times realized  a  profit  of  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars  on 
the  inward  and  outward  run,  within  two  weeks.  Cotton 
could  be  purchased  in  the  Confederacy  for  three  cents  per 
pound  in  gold,  and  sold  in  England  at  the  equivalent  of 
forty-five  cents  to  one  dollar  a  pound,  and  the  profits  on  some 
classes  of  goods  brought  into  the  Confederacy  were  in  the 
same  proportion.  It  is  probably  within  the  bounds  of  truth 
to  say  that  the  blockade  running  traffic  during  the  war,  in- 
cluding the  cost  of  the  ships,  amounted  to  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  millions  of  dollars,  gold  standard. 

The  Confederate  States  steamer  R.  E.  Lee,  under  Captain 
Wilkinson,  ran  the  blockade  at  Wilmington  twenty-one  times 
and  carried  abroad  nearly  seven  thousand  bales  of  cotton, 
worth  at  that  time  about  two  million  dollars  in  gold,  and  she 
also  took  into  the  Confederacy  equally  valuable  cargoes. 

The  steamer  Siren,  most  successful  of  all,  made  sixty- 
four  runs  through  the  blockade  and  her  profits  ran  into  mil- 
lions. 

Montesquieu  has  said  that  it  is  not  the  number  of  killed 
and  wounded  in  a  battle  that  determines  its  general  historical 
importance,  and  Creasy,  in  the  Fifteen  Decisive  Battles  of  the 
World,  from  Marathon  to  Waterloo,  says :  "It  is  not  because 
only  a  few  hundred  fell  in  the  battle  by  which  Joan  of  Arc 
captured  the  Tourelles  and  raised  the  siege  of  Orleans  that 
the  effect  of  that  crisis  is  to  be  judged." 

Napoleon  said  that  an  army  moves  upon  its  belly.  The 
resources  of  the  Confederate  Army  commissariat,  steadily 
depleted  by  the  incessant  drain  upon  the  food  producers  and 
by  the  blockade  of  all  other  Southern  ports,  were  largely  sus- 
tained during  the  war  by  the  successful  blockade  runners 
from  the  West  Indies  to  Wilmington,  whence  cargoes  of  in- 
creasing value  were  inmaediately  transported  to  our  starving 
Confederates  in  the  field;  but  when  the  multiplied  arms  of 


374  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  new  !N"avj,  like  the  deadly  tentacles  of  the  octopus, 
reached  into  every  hiding  place  of  these  fugitives  of  the  sea, 
they  gradually  brought  to  an  end,  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
Fisher,  this  wonderful  epoch  in  our  naval  and  commercial 
history. 

The  ISTew  Inlet,  since  closed  by  the  harbor  and  river  im- 
provements, was  more  frequently  used  by  the  blockade  run- 
ners than  the  main  bar,  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Caswell. 
New  Inlet  was  protected  for  four  years  by  Fort  Fisher, 
which  commanded  the  last  gateway  between  the  Confederate 
States  and  the  outside  world.  Its  capture,  with  the  resulting 
loss  of  all  the  Cape  Fear  River  defenses  and  Wilmington, 
the  entrepot  of  the  Confederacy,  effectually  ended  blockade 
running  and  compelled  the  subsequent  surrender  of  the  Con- 
federate Army  in  the  field,  for  General  Lee  had  previously 
sent  word  to  Colonel  Lamb  that  Fort"  Fisher  must  he  held,  or 
he  could  not  subsist  his  army. 

It  was,  therefore,  not  the  valor  of  the  Federal  or  of  the 
Confederate  forces  in  the  contest  at  Fisher,  in  which  were 
killed  and  wounded  nearly  as  many  of  the  assaulting  forces 
as  the  whole  garrison  of  the  Fort  Fisher  defenders,  that  made 
it  most  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  war.  It  was  the  fatal 
blow  to  the  Confederacy  commissariat,  the  cutting  off  of  its 
supplies,  the  starvation  of  Lee's  army,  the  closure  of  the 
last  hope  of  the  Confederacy,  which  gives  to  the  victory  of 
Curtis,  the  gallant  leader  of  the  Union  forces  at  Fort  Fisher, 
its  lasting  importance  as  an  historical  event. 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  375 

THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  BLOCKADE  RUNNER 
ADVANCE. 

The  following  communication,  prepared  for  me  by  tlie  late 
Col.  James  G.  Burr,  of  Wilmington,  will  be  read  with  inter- 
est: 

"In  the  month  of  August,  1862,  Zebulon  B.  Vance,  then 
a  colonel  of  a  North  Carolina  regiment  serving  in  the  Army 
of  Northern  Virginia,  and  quite  a  young  man,  was  elected 
governor  of  the  State  by  a  larg-e  majority.  He  did  not  seek 
the  office.  In  fact,  he  objected  to  the  use  of  his  name,  for  the 
reason  that  he  preferred  the  position  that  he  then  held  in  the 
Army,  and  for  the  further  reason  that  he  thought  he  was 
too  young  to  be  governor.  The  people,  however,  thought 
differently  and  he  was  borne  into  office  by  a  popular  upheaval. 
With  what  energy  and  vigor  he  discharged  his  duties,  how 
true  he  was  in  every  way  to  his  State  and  his  people,  are 
matters  of  history  and  need  not  be  referred  to  here.  He  was 
inaugurated  the  ensuing  September  and  early  in  his  ad- 
ministration he  conceived  the  idea  of  purchasing  for  the 
State  a  steamer  to  run  the  blockade  at  Wilmington,  bringing 
in  supplies  for  our  soldiers  in  the  field  and  for  our  suffering 
people  at  home.^ 

"Capt.  Thomas  N.  Crossan,  formerly  of  the  U.  S.  Navy, 
was  accordingly  sent  to  England  with  Mr.  Hughes,  of  New 
Bern,  where,  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  John  White,  the  agent 
of  the  State  in  England  at  the  time,  they  purchased  the  fine 
side-wheel  steamer  Lord  Clyde,  then  running  between  Glas- 
gow and  Dublin,  which  name  before  her  advent  into  Southern 
waters  was  changed  to  that  of  Advance  ov  Ad  Vance,  the 
latter  in  compliment  to  the  disting-uished  war  Governor, 
through  whose  instructions  and  active  influence  the  purchase 
had  been  made. 


iDuring  the  Revolution  the  State  made  heavy  importations  and 
had  vessels  engaged  in  running  the  blockade;  and  early  in  1861  that 
precedent  was  again  recommended,  especially  by  Gen.  J.  G.  Martin, 
the  adjutant  general  of  the  State,  and  ample  funds  were  provided. 
When  Vance  came  in  as  governor  the  time  was  ripe  for  it,  and  he 
wisely  carried  the  plan  into  execution. 


376  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"In  the  spring  of  1863  the  Advance  made  her  first  success- 
ful trip  through  the  blockaders  and  arrived  safely  in  the 
harbor  of  Wilmington,  bringing  a  large  amount  of  much- 
needed  supplies.  The  Grovernor  was  informed  of  her  arrival 
and  came  to  Wilmington  immediately,  and  the  next  day, 
Sunday,  went  down  on  one  of  the  river  steamers  with  a  num- 
ber of  his  friends  to  the  ship,  which  was  lying  at  the  quaran- 
tine station  about  fifteen  or  sixteen  miles  below  the  city. 
After  spending  several  hours  on  board  examining  the  ship  and 
partaking  of  the  hospitalities  of  its  officers,  it  was  determined 
to  take  her  up  to  the  city  without  waiting  for  a  permit  from 
the  health  officers,  as  it  was  assumed  the  Governor's  presence 
on  board  would  be  a  justification  for  the  violation  of  quaran- 
tine regulations.  Accordingly  steam  was  raised  and  she 
came  up  to  the  city  and  was  made  fast  to  the  wharf  in  front 
of  the  Custom  House.  This  was  objected  to  by  Major 
Strong,  aid-de-camp  to  General  Whiting,  as  being  in  vio- 
lation of  quarantine  regulations,  and  he  ordered  the  vessel 
to  return  to  her  quarantine  berth.  But  the  Chairman  of  the 
Board  of  Commissioners  of  ISTavigation  was  sent  for  and  he 
gave  a  permit  for  the  vessel  to  remain  where  she  was,  and 
for  all  persons  who  wished  to  land  to  do  so. 

"The  Advance  was  a  first  class  ship  in  every  respect  and 
had  engines  of  great  power  and  very  highly  finished,  and  her 
speed  was  good.  With  a  pressure  of  twenty  pounds  to  the 
square  inch  she  easily  averaged  seventeen  knots  to  the  hour, 
and  when  it  was  increased  to  thirty  pounds  she  reeled  off 
twenty  knots  without  difficulty.  Her  officers  were  Captain 
Crossan,  commander ;  Captain  Wylie,  a  Scotchman,  who  came 
over  with  her,  sailing  master ;  Mr.  Hughes,  of  ISTew  Bern,  pur- 
ser; Capt.  George  Morrison,  chief  engineer.  The  only  objec- 
tion to  her  was  her  size  and  heavy  draught  of  water,  the  latter 
rendering  it  difficult  for  her  to  cross  the  shoals,  which  at  that 
time  were  a  great  bar  to  the  navigation  of  the  river,  and  in 
consequence  of  which  she  could  never  go  out  or  return  with  a 
full  cargo  of  cotton  or  supplies. 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  377 

"She  ran  the  blockade  successfully  seven  or  eight  trips, 
bringing  in  all  kinds  of  supplies  that  were  much  needed  by 
our  troops  and  people,  thanks  to  the  energy  and  wise  foresight 
of  our  patriotic  war  Governor.  The  regularity  of  her  trips 
was  remarkable  and  could  be  calculated  upon  almost  to  the 
very  day ;  indeed  it  was  common  to  hear  upon  the  streets  the 
almost  stereotyped  remark:  'Tomorrow  the  Advance  will 
be  in,'  and  when  the  morrow  came  she  could  generally  be 
seen  gliding  up  to  her  dock  with  the  rich  freight  of  goods 
and  wares  so  greatly  needed  by  our  people.  In  the  mean- 
time, however,  she  had  several  narrow  escapes  from  capture. 
Coming  from  ISTassau  on  one  occasion,  the  weather  being  very 
stormy  and  a  heavy  fog  prevailing,  she  ran  ashore  opposite 
Fort  Caswell  and  remained  there  for  two  days.  The  sea 
was  so  rough  that  the  blockaders  could  not  approach  near 
enough  to  do  her  any  damage,  and  after  discharging  part  of 
her  cargo  she  was  relieved  from  her  perilous  position  and  got 
safely  into  port.  But  the  most  exciting  trip  was  one  made 
in  the  month  of  July,  1864,  from  Bermuda.  She  had  on 
board  as  passengers  a  number  of  prominent  gentlemen,  among 
them  Marshall  Kane,  of  Baltimore,  Rev.  Dr.  Moses  D.  Hoge, 
of  Richmond,  Va.,  and  others  who  had  come  down  from  St. 
Johns,  JSTew  Brunswick,  and  joined  the  ship  at  Bermuda, 
and  who  were  extremely  anxious  to  reach  the  Confederate 
States.  By  some  error  in  calculation,  instead  of  making  Cape 
Fear  light  at  3  a.  m.,  as  was  intended,  they  made  the  light 
on  Cape  Lookout,  a  long  distance  out  of  their  course.  What 
was  best  to  be  done  was  the  question  to  be  solved,  and  to  be 
solved  at  once,  for  daylight  comes  very  soon  in  July.  The 
ship  had  scarcely  enough  coal  in  her  bunkers  to  take  her  back 
to  the  port  she  had  left  and  almost  certain  capture  stared 
them  in  the  face  should  they  attempt  to  run  in.  It  was  de- 
termined, however,  to  make  the  attempt  to  get  in.  The  ship 
was  headed  for  'New  Inlet,  and,  hugging  the  shore  as  closely 
as  possible,  with  all  steam  on  she  dashed  down  the  coast  with 
the  speed  of  a  thoroughbred  on  a  hotly  contested  race  course. 


378  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Fortunately,  at  that  time  many  persons  were  engaged  in  mak- 
ing salt  on  the  coast,  and  the  smoke  rising  from  the  works 
created  a  cloud,  or  mist,  which  concealed  the  ship  from  the 
blockaders,  although  it  was  broad  day ;  but  as  she  neared  the 
inlet  she  was  compelled  to  change  her  course  further  out  to 
sea  on  account  of  a  shoal  or  spit  that  makes  out  into  the 
ocean  at  that  point,  and  she  was  immediately  discovered  by 
the  blockading  fleet,  that  opened  fire  upon  her  and  gave  chase 
like  a  pack  of  hounds  in  eager  pursuit  of  a  much  coveted 
quarry.  It  was  a  most  trying  situation,  for  the  ship  was 
compelled  to  keep  her  course,  although  it  carried  her  nearer 
and  nearer  to  the  enemy,  until  she  could  round  the  shoal  and 
run  in  towards  the  land,  when  she  would  be  in  comparative 
safety.  Eound  shot  and  shell  were  flying  around  her  in  every 
direction,  but  she  held  steadily  on,  though  rushing,  as  it 
seemed,  to  certain  destruction,  when  suddenly  a  roar  was 
heard  from  the  fort — the  heavy  gTins  upon  the  mound  had 
opened  upon  the  pursuers  and  with  such  effect  as  to  check 
their  speed  and  force  them  to  retire;  and  the  gallant  ship, 
which  had  been  so  hardly  pressed,  soon  rounded  the  shoal  and 
was  safe  beneath  the  sheltering  guns  of  the  fort. 

"But  the  pitcher  that  goes  often  to  the  fountain  is  broken  at 
last,  and  the  time  came  when  the  career  of  the  Advance,  as  a 
blockade  runner,  was  to  cease  forever.  She  was  captured  on 
her  outward  trip  a  few  miles  from  our  coast,  owing  to  an 
inferior  quality  of  coal  she  was  compelled  to  use,  which  was 
very  bituminous  and  emitted  a  black  smoke  that  betrayed  her 
to  the  watchful  eyes  of  the  fleet,  and,  being  surrounded  by 
them,  she  was  obliged  to  surrender  with  her  cargo  of  cotton, 
her  ofiicers  and  crew  becoming  prisoners.  She  was  a  noble 
ship,  gTeatly  endeared  to  the  people  of  our  State,  and  her 
capture  was  felt  as  a  personal  calamity. 

"In  1867  she  made  her  reappearance  in  the  waters  of  the 
Cape  Fear  as  the  United  States  man  of  war  Frolic,  sent  to 
this  port  to  prevent  the  Cuban  warship  Cuba  from  leaving 
Wilmington,  which  duty  was  successfully  performed.  It 
happened   on   that   occasion   that    Capt.    George    Morrison, 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  379 

her  former  engineer,  met  some  of  her  officers  and  was  asked 
bj  them  her  rate  of  speed  while  he  had  charge  of  her  en- 
gines. He  replied,  'Seventeen  knots,  easily.'  'Impossible,' 
thej  said,  'for  we  have  not  been  able  to  get  more  than  eight 
or  nine  out  of  her.'  'Something  wrong  then,'  said  the  Cap- 
tain, 'and,  unless  you  have  made  some  alterations  in  her 
machinery,  I  will  guarantee  to  drive  her  to  Smithville  at  a 
rate  of  seventeen  knots  an  hour.'  He  was  cordially  invited  on 
board  to  examine,  did  so,  and  found  that  they  had  placed  a 
damper  whei-e  it  ought  not  to  have  been,  which  prevented  the 
generation  of  steam.  He  removed  it,  and  then  ran  down  to 
Smithville  at  a  rate  of  nineteen  knots  an  hour,  to  the  gTeat 
surprise  of  all  on  board. 

"As  Captain  Morrison  held  such  an  important  position  on 
the  Advance  and  was  so  competent  and  reliable,  it  is  thought 
that  a  brief  sketch  of  his  early  life  will  not  be  out  of  place  in 
this  volume.  He  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  served  four  years 
in  a  machine  shop,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  service  re- 
moved to  Baltimore,  where  he  was  appointed  engineer  on 
one  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  boats;  subsequently  he  was  chief 
engineer  of  a  steamer  plying  between  ISTorfolk,  Old  Point 
Comfort,  and  the  Eastern  and  Western  shore  of  Virginia. 
He  came  to  Wilmington  about  1840  and  was  appointed  as- 
sistant engineer  on  the  steamer  Gladiator  running  between 
Wilmington  and  Charleston.  When  the  boat  was  sold,  he 
became  a  conductor  on  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad, 
and  served  with  great  acceptability  for  a  long  series  of  years. 
He  made  six  trips  on  the  Advance,  but  was  not  on  board  when 
she  was  captured.  Por  more  than  fifty  years  he  was  a  citizen 
of  Wilmington  and  enjoyed  in  his  green  old  age  the  general 
esteem  of  the  community. 

"Another  engineer  on  the  Adva7ice  was  Capt.  James  Ma- 
glenn,  an  Irishman,  who  on  her  last  trip  was  chief  engineer. 
After  her  capture,  the  Advance  was  carried  into  ISTew  Bern, 
where  Captain  Maglenn  escaped,  and  got  to  Baltimore.  There 
some  friends  aided  him  to  escape  to  Canada.    When  he  was 


380  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

on  the  train  he  observed  an  officer  and  a  guard  come  into  the 
car,  and  he  was  very  apprehensive.  But  the  officer  engaged 
himself  in  ascertaining  how  the  passengers  would  vote,  and 
while  many  voted  for  McClellan,  Maglenn  observed  that  the 
officer's  eyes  brightened  when  any  one  voted  for  Lincoln. 
When,  therefore,  the  officer  stopped  opposite  to  him  and  asked, 
looking  at  him  very  intently,  'Who  do  you  vote  for?'  In  a 
voice  loud  enough  to  be  heard  throughout  the  car,  he  answered 
'I  cast  my  vote  for  President  Lincoln.'  The  officer  slapped 
him  on  the  shoulder,  and  said,  'You  are  the  right  sort,  my 
friend.'  Several  passengers  then  came  up  and  shook  hands 
with  him.  Maglenn  was  very  happy  when  he  had  got  well 
into  Canada. 

"After  the  war  he  was  engineer  on  the  Coast  Line,  master 
mechanic  of  the  Carolina  Central,  and  superintendent  of 
motive  power  of  the  Seaboard.  In  all  walks  of  life  and  in 
every  association  with  his  fellow-men  he  was  honest,  true,  and 
faithful.  He  lived  many  years  in  Ealeigh,  where  he  recently 
died." 


CAPTAm  W^ILKINSOK,  BLOCKADE  RUNNER. 

One  of  the  most  intelligent  and  successful  commanders  in 
the  blockade  running  fleet  was  Capt.  John  Wilkinson,  who 
entered  the  TJ.  S.  ISTavy  as  a  midshipman  in  1837,  and,  after 
an  honorable  and  distinguished  career,  tendered  his  services 
to  the  Confederacy  upon  the  secession  of  his  native  State, 
Virginia, 

Having  received  a  commission  in  the  C.  S.  Navy,  he 
served  in  various  responsible  positions,  until  ordered  upon 
special  service  in  command  of  the  C.  S.  steamer  R.  E.  Lee. 

In  his  interesting  book  entitled  Narrative  of  a  Blockade 
Runner,  with  reference  to  the  citizens  of  Virginia  who 
resigned  their  commissions  in  the  old  service,  he  says :  "They 
were  compelled  to  choose  whether  they  would  aid  in  subju- 
gating their  State,  or  in  defending  it  against  invasion ;  for  it 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  381 

was  already  evident  that  coercion  would  be  used  by  the  Gen- 
eral Government,  and  that  war  was  inevitable.  In  reply  to 
the  accusation  of  perjury  in  breaking  their  oath  of  allegiance, 
since  brought  against  the  officers  of  the  Army  and  Navy  who 
resigned  their  commissions  to  render  aid  to  the  South,  it 
need  only  be  stated  that,  in  their  belief,  the  resignation  of 
their  commissions  absolved  them  from  any  special  obligation. 
They  then  occupied  the  same  position  towards  the  Govern- 
ment as  other  classes  of  citizens.  But  this  charge  was  never 
brought  against  them  until  the  war  was  ended.  The  resigna- 
tion of  their  commissions  was  accepted  when  their  purpose 
was  well  knovm.  As  to  the  charge  of  ingratitude,  they 
reply,  their  respective  States  had  contributed  their  full  share 
towards  the  expenses  of  the  General  Government,  acting  as 
their  disbursing  agent ;  and,  when  these  States  withdrew  from 
the  Union,  their  citizens  belonging  to  the  two  branches  of 
the  public  service  did  not,  and  do  not,  consider  themselves 
amenable  to  this  charge  for  abandoning  their  official  positions 
to  cast  their  lot  with  their  kindred  and  friends.  But,  yield- 
ing as  they  did  to  necessity,  it  was  nevertheless  a  painful  act 
to  separate  themselves  from  companions  with  whom  they  had 
been  long  and  intimately  associated,  and  from  the  flag  under 
which  they  had  been  proud  to  serve." 

With  reference  to  his  experience  in  blockade  running  at 
Wilmington,  Captain  Wilkinson  writes : 

"The  natural  advantages  of  Wilmington  for  blockade  run- 
ning were  very  great,  owing  chiefly  to  the  fact  that  there  were 
two  separate  and  distinct  approaches  to  Cape  Fear  River; 
i.  e.,  either  by  ISTew  Inlet  to  the  north  of  Smiths  Island,  or 
by  the  Western  Bar  to  the  south  of  it.  This  island  is  ten  or 
eleven  miles  in  length;  but  the  Frying  Pan  Shoals  extend 
ten  or  twelve  miles  further  south,  making  the  distance  by  sea 
between  the  two  bars  thirty  miles  or  more,  although  the  direct 
distance  between  them  is  only  six  or  seven  miles.  From 
Smithville,  a  little  village  about  equidistant  from  the  two 
bars,  both  blockading  fleets  could  be  distinctly  seen ;  and  the 


382  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

outward  bound  blockade  runuers  could  take  their  choice 
through  which  to  run  the  gauntlet.  The  inward  bound  block- 
ade runners,  too,  were  guided  by  circumstances  of  wind  and 
weather,  selecting  that  bar  over  which  they  would  cross  after 
they  had  passed  the  Gulf  Stream,  and  shaping  their  course 
accordingly.  The  approaches  to  both  bars  were  clear  of  dan- 
ger, with  the  single  exception  of  the  'Lump'  before  men- 
tioned ;  and  so  reg-ular  are  the  soundings  that  the  shore  can  be 
coasted  for  miles  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the  breakers. 

"These  facts  explain  why  the  United  States  fleets  were 
unable  wholly  to  stop  blockade  running.  It  was,  indeed,  im- 
jDossible  to  do  so ;  the  result  to  the  very  close  of  the  war 
proves  this  assertion;  for,  in  spite  of  the  vigilance  of  the 
fleet,  many  blockade  runners  were  afloat  when  Fort  Fisher 
was  captured.  In  fact,  the  passage  through  the  fleet  was 
little  dreaded;  for,  although  the  blockade  runner  might  re- 
ceive a  shot  or  two,  she  was  rarely  disabled ;  and,  in  propor- 
tion to  the  increase  of  the  fleet,  the  greater  we  knew  would 
be  the  danger  of  its  vessels  firing  into  each  other.  As  the 
boys  before  the  deluge  used  to  say,  they  would  be  very  apt  to 
^miss  the  cow  and  kill  the  calf.'  The  chief  danger  was  upon 
the  open  sea,  many  of  the  light  cruisers  having  gTeat  speed. 
As  soon  as  one  of  them  discovered  a  blockade  runner  during 
daylight,  she  would  attract  other  cruisers  in  the  vicinity  by 
sending  up  a  dense  column  of  smoke,  visible  for  many  miles 
in  clear  weather.  A  cordon  of  fast  steamers  stationed  ten  or 
fifteen  miles  apart,  inside  the  Gulf  Stream,  and  in  the  course 
from  Nassau  and  Bermuda  to  Wilmington  and  Charleston, 
would  have  been  more  effective  in  stopping  blockade  running 
than  the  whole  United  States  'Navy  concentrated  off  these 
ports.  It  was  unaccountable  to  us  why  such  a  plan  did  not 
occur  to  good  Mr.  Welles,  but  it  was  not  our  business  to  sug- 
gest. I  have  no  doubt,  however,  that  the  fraternity  to  which 
I  then  belonged  would  have  unanimously  voted  thanks  and  a 
service  of  plate  to  the  Honorable  Secretary  of  the  United 
States  Navy  for  this  oversight. 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  383 

"I  say,  inside  the  Gulf  Stream ;  because  every  experienced 
captain  of  a  blockade  runner  made  it  a  point  to  cross  the 
Stream  early  enough  in  the  afternoon,  if  possible,  to  establish 
the  ship's  position  by  chronometer,  so  as  to  escape  the  influ- 
ence of  that  current  upon  his  dead  reckoning.  The  lead 
always  gave  indication  of  our  distance  from  the  land,  but  not, 
of  course,  of  our  position ;  and  the  numerous  salt  works  along 
the  coast,  where  evaporation  was  produced  by  fire,  and  which 
were  at  work  night  and  day,  were  visible  long  before  the 
coast  could  be  seen.  Occasionally,  the  whole  inward  voyage 
would  be  made  under  adverse  conditions.  Cloudy,  thick 
weather  and  heavy  gales  would  prevail  so  as  to  prevent  any 
solar  or  lunar  observations,  and  reduce  the  dead  reckoning 
to  mere  guess  work.  In  these  cases,  the  nautical  knowledge 
and  judgment  of  the  captain  would  be  taxed  to  the  utmost. 
The  current  of  the  Gulf  Stream  varies  in  velocity  and,  within 
certain  limits,  in  direction ;  and  the  Stream  itself,  almost 
as  well  defined  as  a  river  within  its  banks  under  ordinary 
circumstances,  is  impelled  by  a  strong  gale  towards  the  direc- 
tion in  which  the  wind  is  blowing,  overflowing  its  banks  as 
it  were.  The  counter  current,  too,  inside  of  the  Gulf  Stream 
is  much  influenced  by  the  prevailing  winds. 

"Upon  one  occasion,  while  in  command  of  the  B.  E.  Lee, 
formerly  the  Clyde  built  iron  steamer  Giraffe,  we  had  ex- 
perienced very  heavy  and  thick  weather,  and  had  crossed  the 
Stream  and  struck  soundings  about  midday.  The  weather 
then  clearing,  so  that  we  could  obtain  an  altitude  near  merid- 
ian, we  found  ourselves  at  least  forty  miles  north  of  our  sup- 
posed position,  and  near  the  shoals  which  extend  in  a  south- 
erly direction  off  Cape  Lookout.  It  would  be  more  perilous 
to  run  out  to  sea  than  to  continue  on  our  course,  for  we  had 
passed  through  the  off-shore  line  of  blockaders,  and  the  sky 
had  become  perfectly  clear.  I  determined  to  personate  a 
transport  bound  to  Beaufort,  a  port  which  was  in  possession 
of  the  United  States  forces  and  the  coaling  station  of  the 
fleet  blockading  Wilmington.     The  risk  of  detection  was  not 


384  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

very  great,  for  many  of  the  captured  blockade  runners  were 
used  as  transports  and  dispatch  vessels.  Shaping  our  course 
for  Beaufort,  and  slowing  down,  as  if  we  were  in  no  haste 
to  get  there,  we  passed  several  vessels,  showing  United  States 
colors  to  them  all.  Just  as  we  were  crossing  the  ripple  of 
shallow  water  off  the  'tail'  of  the  shoals,  we  dipped  our 
colors  to  a  sloop-of-war  which  passed  three  or  four  miles  to 
the  south  of  us.  The  courtesy  met  prompt  response;  but 
I  have  no  doubt  her  captain  thought  me  a  lubberly  and  care- 
less seaman  to  shave  the  shoals  so  closely.  We  stopped  the 
engines  when  no  vessels  were  in  sight;  and  I  was  relieved 
from  a  heavy  burden  of  anxiety  as  the  sun  sank  below  the 
horizon,  and  our  course  was  shaped  at  full  speed  for  Mason- 
boro  Inlet. 

''The  staid  old  town  of  Wilming-ton  was  turned  'topsy- 
turvy' during  the  war.  Here  resorted  the  speculators  from 
all  parts  of  the  South,  to  attend  the  weekly  auctions  of  im- 
ported cargoes;  and  the  town  was  infested  with  rogues  and 
desperadoes,  who  made  a  livelihood  by  robbery  and  murder. 
It  was  unsafe  to  venture  into  the  suburbs  at  night,  and  even 
in  daylight  there  were  frequent  conflicts  in  the  public  streets 
between  the  crews  of  steamers  in  port  and  the  soldiers  sta- 
tioned in  the  town,  in  which  knives  and  pistols  would  be 
freely  used ;  and  not  infrequently  a  dead  body  with  marks  of 
violence  upon  it  would  rise  to  the  surface  of  the  water  in 
one  of  the  docks.  The  civil  authorities  were  powerless  to 
prevent  crime.  'Inter  arma  silent  leges!'  The  agents  and 
employees  of  different  blockade  running  companies  lived  in 
magnificent  style,  paying  a  king's  ransom  (in  Confederate 
money)  for  their  household  expenses,  and  nearly  monopoliz- 
ing the  supplies  in  the  country  market.  Towards  the  end  of 
the  war,  indeed,  fresh  provisions  were  almost  beyond  the 
reach  of  every  one.  Our  family  servant,  newly  arrived  from 
the  country  in  Virginia,  would  sometimes  return  from  market 
with  an  empty  basket,  having  flatly  refused  to  pay  what  he 
called  'such  nonsense  prices'  for  a  bit  of  fresh  beef  or  a  hand- 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  385 

fill  of  vegetables.  A  quarter  of  lamb,  at  the  time  of  whicb  I 
now  write,  sold  for  $100 ;  a  pound  of  tea  for  $500.  Confed- 
erate money  wbich  in  September,  1861,  was  nearly  equal 
to  specie  in  value,  had  declined  in  September,  1862,  to  225; 
in  the  same  month  in  1863,  to  400,  and  before  September, 
1864,  to  2,000. 

"Many  of  the  permanent  residents  of  the  town  had  gone 
into  the  country,  letting  their  houses  at  enormous  prices; 
those  who  were  compelled  to  remain  kept  themselves  much 
secluded,  the  ladies  rarely  being  seen  upon  the  more  public 
streets.  Many  of  the  fast  young  officers  belonging  to  the 
Army  would  get  an  occasional  leave  to  come  to  Wilmington ; 
and  would  live  at  free  quarters  on  board  the  blockade  runners, 
or  at  one  of  the  numerous  bachelor  halls  ashore. 

"The  convalescent  soldiers  from  the  Virginia  hospitals 
were  sent  by  the  route  through  Wilmington  to  their  homes 
in  the  South.  The  ladies  of  the  town  were  organized  by  Mrs. 
DeRosset  into  a  society  for  the  purpose  of  ministering  to  the 
wants  of  these  poor  sufferers,  the  trains  which  carried  them 
stopping  an  hour  or  two  at  the  station  that  their  wounds 
might  be  dressed  and  food  and  medicine  supplied  to  them. 
These  self-sacrificing,  heroic  women  patiently  and  faithfully 
performed  the  offices  of  hospital  nurses. 

"Liberal  contributions  to  this  society  were  made  by  both 
companies  and  individuals,  and  the  long  tables  at  the  station 
were  spread  with  delicacies  for  the  sick  to  be  found  nowhere 
else  in  the  Confederacy.  The  remains  of  the  meals  were 
carried  by  the  ladies  to  a  camp  of  mere  boys — home  guards — 
outside  of  the  town.  Some  of  these  children  were  scarcely 
able  to  carry  a  musket,  and  were  altogether  unable  to  endure 
the  exposure  and  fatigue  of  field  service;  and  they  suffered 
fearfully  from  measles  and  typhoid  fever.  General  Grant 
used  a  strong  figure  of  speech  when  he  asserted  that  'the  cra- 
dle and  the  grave  were  robbed  to  recruit  the  Confederate 
armies.'  The  fact  of  a  fearful  drain  upon  the  population  was 
not  exaggerated.    Both  shared  the  hardships  and  dangers  of 


386  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

war  with  equal  self-devotion  to  the  cause.  It  is  true  that  a 
class  of  heartless  speculators  infested  the  country,  who  prof- 
ited by  the  scarcity  of  all  sorts  of  supplies;  but  this  fact 
makes  the  self-sacrifice  of  the  mass  of  the  Southern  people 
more  conspicuous ;  and  no  State  made  more  liberal  voluntary 
contributions  to  the  armies,  or  furnished  better  soldiers,  than 
North  Carolina. 

"On  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  Wilmington,  on  a 
low,  marshy  flat,  were  erected  the  steam  cotton  presses,  and 
there  the  blockade  runners  took  in  their  cargoes.  Sentries 
were  posted  on  the  wharves,  day  and  night,  to  prevent  desert- 
ers from  getting  on  board  and  stowing  themselves  away ;  and 
the  additional  precaution  of  fumigating  the  outward  bound 
steamers  at  Smithville  was  adopted;  but,  in  spite  of  this 
vigilance,  many  persons  succeeded  in  getting  a  free  passage 
abroad.  These  deserters,  or  'stowaways,'  were,  in  most  in- 
stances, sheltered  by  one  or  more  of  the  crew ;  in  which  event 
they  kept  their  places  of  concealment  until  the  steamer  had 
arrived  at  her  port  of  destination,  when  they  would  profit 
by  the  first  opportunity  to  leave  the  vessel  undiscovered.  A 
small  bribe  would  tempt  the  average  blockade  running  sailor 
to  connive  at  this  means  of  escape.  The  'impecunious'  de- 
serter fared  worse,  and  would  usually  be  forced  by  hunger  and 
thirst  to  emerge  from  his  hiding  place  while  the  steamer  was 
on  the  outward  voyage.  A  cruel  device  employed  by  one  of 
the  captains  effectually  put  a  stop,  I  believe — certainly  a 
check — to  this  class  of  'stowaways.'  He  turned  three  or  four 
of  them  adrift  in  the  Gulf  Stream,  in  an  open  boat,  with  a 
pair  of  oars,  and  a  few  days'  allowance  of  bread  and  water." 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  387 

CAPTAm  USIKA. 

During  mj  intercourse  with  officers  of  celebrated  blockade 
running  ships  in  the  years  1863  and  1864,  I  met  a  mariner 
named  M.  P.  Usina,  from  Charleston,  familiarly  known  as 
Mike  TJsina,  whose  skill  and  daring  made  him  famous  in 
Nassau  and  Bermuda  and  in  all  of  the  Atlantic  States.  The 
American  consul  at  :N"assau,  Mr.  Whiting,  eager  for  his  cap- 
ture by  the  cruisers  which  hovered  near  the  British  islands, 
bought  Usina's  portraits  from  a  local  photographer,  and  sent 
them  broadcast  among  the  Federal  commanders  in  order  to 
identify  him  when  captured,  as  many  Southerners  escaped 
long  confinement  by  claiming  to  be  Englishmen.  Captain 
Usina  seemed  to  have  a  charmed  life,  but  he  was  in  reality 
so  cool  under  fire,  and  so  resourceful  in  a  tight  place  or  situ- 
ation, that  he  slipped  through  their  fingers  frequently  when 
his  capture  seemed  certain. 

I  remember  some  of  the  incidents  connected  with  his 
blockade  experience  which  stirred  my  blood  long  years  ago 
and  which  I  still  recall  with  something  of  the  old  time  en- 
thusiasm. In  a  speech  before  the  Confederate  Veterans'  As- 
sociation of  Savannah,  July  4,  1893,  which  I  have  carefully 
preserved,  Captain  Usina  told  a  number  of  thrilling  stories  of 
his  career  which  deserve  honorable  mention  in  the  history 
of  the  strenuous  times  which  he  most  graphically  described. 
On  that  occasion  he  said : 

"The  men  who  ran  the  blockade  had  to  be  men  who  could 
stand  fire  without  returning  it.  It  was  a  business  in  which 
every  man  took  his  life  in  his  hands,  and  he  so  understood  it. 
An  ordinarily  brave  man  had  no  business  on  a  blockade 
runner.  He  who  made  a  success  of  it  was  obliged  to  have  the 
cunning  of  a  fox,  the  patience  of  a  Job,  and  the  bravery  of  a 
Spartan  warrior.  The  United  States  Government  wanted  at 
first  to  treat  them  as  pirates  and  was  never  satisfied  to  con- 
sider them  contrabandists.  The  runners  must  not  be  armed 
and  must  not  resist ;  they  must  simply  be  cool  and  quick  and 
26 


388  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

watchful,  and,  for  the  rest,  trust  to  God  and  their  good  ship 
to  deliver  them  safely  to  their  friends. 

"The  United  States  blockade  squadron  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  consisted  of  about  300  vessels  of  all  kinds,  sailing  ves- 
sels, three-deckers,  monitors,  iron-clads,  and  svcift  cruisers — 
most  of  them  employed  to  prevent  the  blockade  runners  from 
entering  Charleston  and  Wilmington,  these  being  the  ports 
where  most  of  the  blockade  running  was  done.  At  each  of 
these  ports  there  were  three  lines  of  ships  anchored  in  a  semi- 
circle, so  that  our  vessels  had  to  run  the  gauntlet  through 
these  three  lines  before  they  had  the  enemy  astern  and  their 
haven  ahead.  Besides  these,  the  ocean  between  the  Confeder- 
ate ports  and  the  Bermudas  and  the  West  Indies  was  policed 
by  many  of  the  fastest  ships  that  money  could  buy  or  build, 
so  that  we  had  practically  to  run  two  blockades  to  reach  a 
Southern  port.  The  swiftest  of  the  captured  blockade  run- 
ners were  put  into  this  service,  and  I  have  more  than  once 
been  chased  by  ships  of  which  I  had  myself  been  an  officer. 

"A  few  instances  will  suffice  to  illustrate  the  fact  that  the 
risks  to  be  taken  by  the  blockade  runners  were  not  confined 
to  our  own  coast,  and  they  will  also  illustrate  the  impunity 
with  which  the  Federal  blockaders  practically  blockaded 
friendly  ports  in  violation  of  the  neutrality  laws  governing 
nations  at  peace  with  each  other. 

"English  steamers  with  an  English  crew  and  without  cargo 
bound  from  one  English  port  to  another,  were  taken  as  prizes 
simply  because  they  were  suspected  of  being  brought  to  the 
Islands  to  be  used  as  blockade  runners. 

"During  the  afternoon  of  March  3,  1863,  while  going  from 
Kassau  to  Havana  in  the  steamer  Stonewall  Jackson,  we 
were  sighted  by  the  R.  R.  Cuyler,  which  chased  us  for  thirteen 
hours  along  the  Cuban  coast  until  early  the  next  morning, 
when  we  passed  by  the  Morro  Castle  flying  the  Confederate 
flag,  with  the  Cuyler  a  short  half  mile  astern  of  us  flying  the 
stars  and  stripes. 

"In  1864,  the  Margaret  and  Jessie,  bound  from  Charleston 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  389 

to  ISTassau,  was  chased  and  fired  into  while  running  along  the 
coast  of  Eleutheria,  within  the  neutral  distance — an  English 
league — the  shot  and  shell  passing  over  her  fell  into  the  pine- 
apple fields  of  the  Island.  She  was  finally  run  ashore  by  her 
captain  to  prevent  her  sinking  from  the  effects  of  the  enemy's 
shot. 

"On  one  occasion  I  was  awakened  by  the  sound  of  cannon 
in  the  early  morning  at  J^assau,  and  imagine  my  surprise  to 
see  a  Confederate  ship  being  fired  at  by  a  Federal  ship-of-war. 
The  Confederate  proved  to  be  the  Antonica,  Captain  Coxetter, 
who  arrived  off  the  port  during  the  night,  and  waiting  for  a 
pilot  and  daylight,  found  when  daylight  did  appear  that  an 
enemy's  ship  was  between  him  and  the  bar.  There  was  noth- 
ing left  for  him  to  do  but  run  the  gauntlet  and  take  his  fire, 
which  he  did  in  good  shape,  some  of  the  shot  actually  falling 
into  the  harbor.  The  Federal  ship  was  commanded  by  Com- 
modore Wilkes,  who  became  widely  known  from  taking  Mason 
and  Slidell  prisoners.  After  the  chase  was  over  Wilkes  an- 
chored his  ship,  and  when  the  Governor  sent  to  tell  him  that 
he  must  not  remain  at  anchor  there,  he  said :  'Tell  the  Gov- 
ernor, etc.,  etc.,  he  would  anchor  where  he  pleased.'  The  mili- 
tary authorities  sent  their  artillery  across  to  Hog  Island,  near 
where  he  was  anchored,  and  we  Confederates  thought  the  fun 
was  about  to  begin.  But  Wilkes  remained  just  long  enough 
to  communicate  with  the  consul  and  get  what  information  he 
wanted,  and  left. 

"All  this  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  Yankees  made  the 
trip  a  very  hazardous  one,  and  the  man  who  failed  to  keep 
the  sharpest  kind  of  a  lookout  was  more  apt  to  bring  up  in  a 
^Northern  prison  than  in  a  Confederate  port.  Then,  too,  the 
Yankee  cruisers  managed  to  keep  pretty  well  posted  as  to  our 
movements  through  the  American  consuls  stationed  at  the 
different  ports  frequented  by  our  vessels. 

"Having  occasion  to  go  from  ISTassau  to  Bermuda,  and 
there  being  no  regular  line  between  the  islands,  I  chartered 
a  schooner  to  take  me  and  part  of  my  crew  there,  and  we  had 


390  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

sailed  within  about  sixty  miles  of  our  destination  when,  at 
daylight,  we  were  spoken  by  the  United  States  ship-of-war 
Shenandoah.  Her  officer  asked:  'What  schooner  is  that, 
where  from,  and  where  bound  to  ?'  Our  captain  was  below 
and  I  answered  him :  'Schooner  Royal,  bound  from  I^assau  to 
Bermuda.'  He  ordered:  'Lower  your  boat  and  come  along- 
side.' I  said:  'I'll  see  you,  etc.,  etc.,  and  then  I  won't.' 
^Nothing  further  was  said,  but  in  about  twenty  minutes  they 
sent  an  armed  boat  alongside. 

"In  the  meantime  I  had  our  captain  called  and  the  English 
ensign  hoisted.  Upon  coming  on  deck  the  officer,  quite  a 
young  lieutenant,  was  showni  below,  and  after  examining  the 
vessel's  papers,  which  he  found  0.  K.,  he  was  about  to  return 
to  his  ship  when  I  invited  him  to  have  a  glass  of  wine  with 
me.  I  have  never  forgotten  his  answer.  'I  hadn't  oughter, 
but  I  reckon  I  will.'  After  a  little  wine  he  grew  talkative. 
He  asked  if  I  had  not  answered  their  hail,  and  when  I  replied 
'Yes,'  said  'I  thought  so,  it  sounded  like  you.'  'Why,  what 
do  you  know  about  me?'  I  asked.  'Oh,  I  know  enough  to 
surprise  you.'  'That  is  something  no  one  has  ever  done  yet' 
'Would  you  be  surprised  if  I  told  you  that  your  name  is 
Usina  V  'Oh,  no,  my  name  is  Marion  Eobinson.'  'How  about 
the  man  who  sat  on  the  rail  near  you  when  I  came  on  board  ? 
He  is  your  man  Irvin.'  'You  have  it  bad  this  morning,'  said 
I.  'Does  wine  usually  affect  you  that  way  ?'  'You  know  that 
I  am  giving  it  to  you  straight,'  said  he.  'Oh,  no,  you're 
badly  mixed.'  'Will  you  think  I'm  mixed  when  I  tell  you 
that  that  little  Frenchman  is  John  Sassard,  your  chief  engi- 
neer ;  that  red-headed  fellow  over  there  is  !Nelson,  your 
chief  officer;  these  are  all  your  men,  and  you  are  going  to 
Bermuda  to  take  charge  of  a  new  ship.'  'Well,'  said  I,  'you 
certainly  have  it  bad,  you  had  better  not  take  any  more  wine.' 
'Will  you  acknowledge  I  am  right  now  V  said  he,  and  pro- 
duced my  photograph  with  my  history  written  on  the  back  of 
it.  I  had  to  acknowledge  it  then ;  but  I  was  under  the  pro- 
tection of  Her  Most  Gracious  Majesty,  and  he  had  to  admit 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  391 

his  inability  to  take  me  now,  though  he  promised  to  capture 
me  before  long  and  boasted  that  he  had  come  very  near  me 
often  before.  But  'close'  didn't  count  any  more  then  than  it 
does  now,  and  he  promised  to  treat  me  well  if  he  should  ever 
have  the  chance,  and  so  we  parted  good  friends. 

"I  afterward  found  out  that  his  ship  had  called  at  ISTassau 
shortly  after  our  leaving  there,  and  the  Consul  had  given 
him  my  picture  and  the  information  which  he  sprung  on 
me.  I  learned  then  that  the  photographers  there  had  been 
making  quite  a  nice  thing  selling  the  pictures  of  blockade  run- 
ners to  the  United  States  authorities,  together  with  what 
information  they  could  gather  about  the  originals,  and  the 
result  was  that  with  but  one  exception  (Captain  Coxetter,  who 
was  too  wise  to  have  his  picture  taken)  the  Yankees  had  all 
our  pictures,  which  did  then,  and  perhaps  do  still,  adorn  the 
rogues'  gallery  in  Ludlow  Street  jail,  JSTew  York  City.  Thus 
many  a  poor  fellow,  who  thought  he  was  successfully  passing 
himself  off  as  an  Englishman,  was  identified  and  sent  to 
Lafayette  or  Warren,  two  winter  resorts  that  are  not  too 
pleasantly  remembered  by  some  of  my  old  shipmates. 

"The  enemy's  ships  were  provided  with  powerful  calcium 
searchlights,  which,  if  a  blockade  runner  was  in  reach,  would 
light  her  up  about  as  well  as  an  electric  light  would  at  the 
present  time,  and  make  her  a  perfect  target  for  the  enemy's 
fire.  I  have  several  times  been  just  far  enough  to  be  out  of 
reach  of  the  light  and  by  circling  around  it  to  dodge  them  in 
the  darkness.  Another  plan  they  adopted  was  to  throw 
rockets  over  the  ship  occasionally,  showing  to  all  the  vessels 
of  the  fleet  the  course  taken  by  the  fugitive.  I  think  one  of 
the  worst  frights  I  had  during  the  war  was  the  landing  of  a 
rocket  on  deck  close  to  where  I  was  standing.  While  we 
could  not  circumvent  their  searchlights,  I  succeeded  in  making 
the  rocket  scheme  useless  by  providing  myself  with  a  quantity 
of  them,  firing  back  at  them  whenever  they  fired  at  us,  or 
firing  them  in  every  direction,  making  it  impossible  to  tell 
in  which  direction  the  chased  ship  was  going. 


392  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"Among  the  vessels  blockading  Wilmington  in  1864  was 
the  little  side-wheel  steamer  Nansemond,  after  the  war  a  reve- 
nue cutter,  and  stationed  at  this  place.  She  had  a  rifle  gun 
mounted  at  each  end,  and  being  quite  fast  made  several  valu- 
able captures.  I  remember  that  among  the  craft  captured 
bj  her  was  the  steamer  Hope,  Capt.  Wm.  Hammer,  of 
Charleston,  with  1,800  bales  of  cotton  and  more  men  on 
board  the  Hope  than  there  were  on  board  the  Nansemond,  but 
unfortunately  while  the  Hope  was  a  stronger  and  larger  ship, 
and  had  more  men,  she  was  not  allowed  to  defend  herself  and 
had  to  submit  to  the  inevitable. 

"One  afternoon,  while  in  command  of  the  Atalanta  and  ap- 
proaching Wilming-ton,  I  was  sighted  by  the  Nansemond  and 
was  being  chased  away  from  my  port.  Although  I  had  the 
faster  vessel,  I  realized  that  if  the  chase  continued  much 
longer  I  would  be  driven  so  far  from  my  destination  that  I 
would  not  be  able  to  get  back  that  night,  and  so  determined 
that,  although  I  had  no  guns  to  fight  with,  I  might  try  a  game 
of  bluff.  Hoisting  the  Confederate  flag  I  changed  my  course 
directly  for  him,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  tables  were  turned 
and  the  chaser  was  being  chased,  the  Nansemond  seeking  with 
all  possible  speed  the  protection  of  the  ships  stationed  off  the 
bar,  and  that  night  the  Atalanta  was  safe  once  more  in  Dixie. 

"Several  years  afterwards  I  was  a  passenger  on  board  the 
little  revenue  cutter  Endeavor,  better  known  as  the  Hunhey 
Dory,  bound  from  Tybee  to  Savannah,  and  a  stranger  to 
every  one  on  board.  The  conversation  drifted  into  war  rem- 
iniscences. Mr.  Hapold,  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  Hunkey 
Dory,  had  been  an  engineer  on  board  the  Nansemond 
when  stationed  on  the  blockade  off  Wilmington,  and  while 
giving  his  experience,  among  other  incidents  he  told  of  the 
narrow  escape  they  had  when  the  Nansemond  was  decoyed 
away  from  the  fleet  by  a  cruiser,  under  the  guise  of  a  blockade 
runner,  that,  when  she  thought  the  Nansemond  was  far 
enough  away  from  her  friends,  ran  up  the  Confederate  flag 
and  attempted  to  make  a  prize  of  her.     'But,'  said  he,  'the 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  393 

little  Nansemond's  speed  saved  her.'  You  can  imagine  their 
surprise  when  informed  that  I  was  in  charge  of  the  Con- 
federate vessel,  which  w^as  an  unarmed  ship  chasing  one  that 
was  armed.  A  clear  case  of  'run  big  'fraid,  little  'fraid'll 
catch  you !' 

"As  a  rule  the  blockade  runners  were  ships  very  slightly 
built,  of  light  draft  and  totally  unfit  to  brave  the  storms  of  the 
Atlantic.  Yet  the  worse  the  weather  the  better  it  was  liked, 
since  a  rough  sea  greatly  reduced  the  danger  from  the  ene- 
my's guns.  In  most  of  the  ships  the  boilers  and  engines  were 
very  much  exposed,  and  a  single  shot  to  strike  the  boiler 
meant  the  death  of  every  one  on  board.  We  had  no  light- 
houses or  marks  of  any  kind  to  guide  us,  except  the  enemy's 
fleet,  and  had  to  depend  upon  our  observations  and  surround- 
ings on  approaching  the  coast.  Our  ships  were  painted  gray, 
to  match  the  horizon  at  night,  some  were  provided  with  tele- 
scopic funnels,  and  masts  hinged,  so  that  they  could  be  low- 
ered, and  others  had  the  masts  taken  out  altogether.  A  great 
source  of  danger,  and  one  which  was  unavoidable,  was  the 
black  smoke  caused  from  our  fires,  and  for  this  sign  the 
blockaders  were  always  on  the  lookout.  The  United  States 
Government  having  forbidden  the  exportation  of  anthracite 
coal,  there  was  nothing  for  us  to  do  but  use  bituminous  and 
take  all  precautions  possible  to  prevent  the  issuing  of  black 
smoke  from  our  funnels. 

"On  dark  nights  it  was  very  difficult  to  discern  their  low 
hulls,  and  moonlight  nights,  as  a  rule,  were  nights  of  rest,  few 
ships  venturing  to  run  the  gauntlet  when  the  moon  was  bright. 
'Eo  lights  were  used  at  sea.  Everything  was  in  total  silence 
and  darkness.  To  speak  above  a  whisper  or  to  strike  a  match 
would  subject  the  offender  to  immediate  punishment.  Orders 
were  passed  along  the  deck  in  whispers,  canvas  curtains  were 
dropped  to  the  water's  edge  around  the  paddles  to  deaden  the 
noise,  and  men  exposed  to  view  on  deck  were  dressed  in  sheets, 
moving  about  like  so  many  phantoms  on  a  phantom  ship. 

"The  impression  always  prevailed,  and  still  prevails  to  a 


394  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

great  extent,  that  the  South  has  no  sailors,  but  the  record  of 
the  Southern  sailors  during  the  war  is  second  to  none  that  the 
world  has  ever  produced,  and  should  the  emergency  arise 
again,  the  descendants  of  the  same  men  will  emulate  the 
example  set  by  their  fathers.  I  do  not  think  their  services 
have  ever  been  understood  or  appreciated,  from  the  fact  that 
so  little  of  their  authentic  history  has  ever  found  its  way  into 
the  hands  of  the  reading  public. 

"Most  of  them  had  all  their  relatives  and  friends  in  the 
Southern  service,  suffering  untold  hardships  and  exposing 
their  lives  daily,  and  they  felt  it  their  duty  to  risk  their  ships 
and  their  lives  to  bring  food  to  our  starving  countrymen,  de- 
termined if  their  ship  was  stopped  that  it  must  be  by  the 
enemy  and  not  by  their  own  order. 

''During  the  first  two  years  of  the  war  the  blockade  run- 
ners were  almost  exclusively  officered  by  English  and  Scotch, 
but  during  the  last  two  years  the  danger  was  very  much  in- 
creased, and  while  there  can  be  no  question  as  to  the  bravery 
of  the  British  sailor,  it  required  the  additional  incentive  of 
patriotism  to  induce  men  to  venture  in  the  service.  It  is 
noticeable  that  nearly  all  the  officers  during  these  last  two 
years  were  Confederates. 

''The  first  steamship  to  which  I  was  attached  was  the  side- 
wheel  steamer  Leopard.  She  was  officered  entirely  by  South- 
ern men,  Captain  Black,  of  Savannah,  commander;  Capt. 
Eobt.  Lockwood,  of  Charleston,  pilot,  and  as  gallant  a  man  as 
the  war  produced.  Cool,  quiet,  and  never  losing  his  wits,  he 
was  an  ideal  blockade  pilot.  In  the  engine  room  were  Peck, 
Barbot,  Sassard  and  Miller,  four  splendid  mechanics  and  gal- 
lant fellows  all.  The  deck  officers  were  Bradford,  Horsey, 
and  myself,  three  boys,  twenty-four,  twenty-three  and  twenty- 
two  years  of  age  respectively,  but  each  had  received  his  bap- 
tism of  fire  in  Virginia ;  Bradford  with  a  Virginia  artillery 
company.  Horsey  with  the  Washington  Artillery  of  Charles- 
ton, and  I  with  the  Oglethorpe  Light  Infantry  of  Savannah. 
Yet,  though  long  in  the  service,  not  one  of  us  three  ever  saw  the 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  395 

inside  of  a  Federal  prison.  Sucli  were  the  men  who  supplied 
the  munitions  of  war,  clothing,  and  food  for  our  armies  up  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  while  the  United  States  Government, 
with  an  immense  fleet  of  ships  and  the  whole  world  to  draw 
upon,  was  powerless  to  prevent  it. 

"When  I  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the  Mary 
Celeste,,  I  was  fortunate  to  have  associated  with  me  as  brave 
and  faithful  a  set  of  officers  as  ever  fell  to  the  lot  of  any  man, 
and  I  needed  them,  for  I  was  the  boy  captain,  the  youngest 
man  to  command  a  blockade  runner.  My  chief  engineer  was 
John  Sassard  of  Charleston,  and  I  have  never  known  a  better 
engineer  nor  a  more  conscientious  Christian  gentleman.  I 
never  knew  him  to  take  a  drinji,  and  I  never  heard  an  oath 
issue  from  his  lips.  Shrinking  from  anything  like  notoriety, 
he  was  a  true  Confederate  and  as  brave  as  brave  could  be.  I 
think  one  of  the  best  illustrations  of  his  nerve  was  an  incident 
that  occurred  on  my  first  voyage  in  command.  We  had  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  through  the  blockade  off  Wilmington  and 
shaped  a  course  for  Bermuda.  Daylight  found  us  in  the  Gulf 
Stream,  the  weather  dirty,  raining,  and  a  heavy  sea,  our  ship 
small  and  heavily  loaded.  The  rain  clearing  away,  there  was 
disclosed  to  our  view  a  large  brig-rigged  steamer  within  easy 
gun  shot,  with  all  her  canvas  set  bearing  down  upon  us.  I 
found  out  afterwards  that  she  was  the  steamship  Fulton,  a 
very  fast  ship  built  for  the  passenger  trade  between  ITew 
York  and  Havre,  France. 

"We  altered  our  course  head  to  wind  and  sea,  causing  the 
chasing  steamer  to  do  the  same  and  to  take  in  her  sails,  which 
gave  us  a  little  advantage,  but  she  was  a  large,  able  ship,  and 
made  good  weather,  while  our  little  craft  would  bury  herself 
clean  out  of  sight,  taking  the  green  seas  in  over  the  forecastle. 
Calling  Mr.  Sassard,  I  said :  'John,  this  will  never  do.  That 
ship  will  soon  sink  us  or  catch  us  unless  we  do  better.'  He  an- 
swered in  his  quiet  manner:  'Captain,  I  am  going  all  that 
a  sane  man  dare  do.'  'Then,'  said  I,  'you  must  be  insane, 
and  that  quick,  for  it  is  destruction  or  Fort  Lafayette  for  us, 


396  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

and  I  would  rather  go  to  the  former.  I  am  going  to  lighten 
her  forward,  so  that  she  will  go  into  the  sea  easier,  and  you 
must  get  more  revolutions  out  of  the  engines.'  He  went  be- 
low, and  I  took  forty-five  bales  of  cotton  from  forward,  rolled 
them  abaft  the  j^addles,  cut  them  open,  so  that  the  enemy 
could  make  no  use  of  them,  and  threw  them  overboard.  The 
loose  cotton  floating  in  our  wake  caused  him  to  deviate  from 
his  course  occasionally,  which  helped  us  some.  About  this 
time  Sassard  sent  for  me  to  come  down  to  the  engine-room, 
where  he  said :  '^Captain,  I  am  getting  all  the  revolutions  pos- 
sible out  of  the  engines.  I  am  following  steam  full  stroke; 
this  is  a  new  ship,  first  voyage ;  these  boilers  are,  I  hope,  good 
English  iron.  All  there  is  now  between  us  and  eternity  are 
these  boilers.  How  much  steam  there  is  on  them  I  do  not 
know.'  (He  had  a  kedge  anchor  made  fast  to  the  safety 
valve.)  In  my  opinion  it  takes  a  mighty  brave  man  to  do 
that.  I  went  on  deck,  threw  the  log  and  found  the  ship  to  be 
making  seventeen  miles  an  hour  into  a  heavy  head  sea.  'AH 
right,'  I  said,  'keep  that  up  a  little  while,  and  there  is  no 
ship  in  the  United  States  Navy  that  can  catch  her.'  We  were 
soon  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's  guns  and  enabled  to  reduce 
the  pressure  on  the  boilers.  Sassard  and  I  never  separated 
until  after  the  surrender.  My  first  assistant  engineer,  Mid- 
dleton,  was  chief  of  the  ill-fated  Lelia,  and  lost  his  life  when 
she  went  down  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mersey  with  very  nearly 
all  hands.  My  second  assistant  engineer  was  the  heroic  Mc- 
Kay, who  afterwards  drove  the  Armstrong  for  seven  hours, 
while  three  ships  were  raining  shot  and  shell  at  her.  My 
pilot,  Thomas  M.  Thompson,  of  Wilmington,  was  another 
officer  who  knew  no  fear, 

"To  illustrate  more  fully  the  kind  of  men  with  whom  I  was 
associated,  I  will  relate  a  few  incidents  that  occurred  on 
board  the  Atalanta  on  her  last  run  into  Wilmington,  when  she 
was  turned  over  to  the  naval  authorities  and  converted  into 
the  cruiser  Tallahassee. 

"Just  before  leaving  Bermuda  for  Wilmington,  several  of 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  397 

our  fastest  ships  returned  after  unsuccessful  attempts  to  get 
into  tlie  Confederacy  and  reported  that  the  ocean  and  coast 
were  alive  with  the  enemy's  ships  and  that  it  was  impossible 
to  get  through.  We  were  ready  for  sea,  however,  and  I  deter- 
mined to  make  the  trial.  We  approached  the  entrance  to  the 
Wilmington  harbor,  a  beautiful  moonlight  night  in  July,  only 
one  day  before  the  full  moon.  Before  approaching  the  block- 
aders  the  officers  and  men  were  notified  that  the  attempt  was 
about  to  be  made  with  the  chances  very  much  against  us. 
(There  were  thirty-five  blockaders  anchored  there  the  after- 
noon before,  counted  from  Fort  Caswell.)  But,  I  said  that 
we  had  four  hundred  tons  of  meat  for  starving  soldiers  and  I 
intended  to  make  a  run  for  it,  and  if  any  of  them  were  un- 
willing to  take  the  risk,  they  were  at  liberty  to  take  the  small 
boats  and  try  to  reach  the  beach.  To  their  credit,  be  it  said, 
not  one  man  availed  himseK  of  the  privilege.  When  I  said 
to  Mr.  Thompson,  our  fearless  pilot,  'Tom,  I  am  going  to 
make  the  attempt,  what  do  you  think  of  it  V  his  answer  was 
'I  am  ready,  sir,  whenever  you  are,'  and  not  another  word 
was  said  except  the  necessary  orders  for  the  management  of 
the  ship. 

"Slowly  approaching  the  vessel  I  supposed  to  be  the  flag 
ship,  which  we  used  as  a  point  of  departure  to  find  the  inlet, 
there  being  no  lights  or  other  marks  to  find  the  entrance,  I 
was  notified  by  the  engineer  that  he  could  not  hold  his  steam, 
and  that  we  must  either  go  faster  or  he  would  be  obliged  to 
open  his  safety  valve,  something  never  allowed  when  the 
enemy  was  within  hearing.  I  told  him  to  hold  on  a  few  mo- 
ments and  he  would  have  a  chance  to  work  his  steam  off.  We 
could  distinctly  see  the  ships  in  the  beautiful  moonlight,  and 
they  were  so  many  that  we  had  to  steer  directly  for  and 
through  them.  As  we  neared  the  big  flag  ship  she  fired  a 
blank  cartridge  and  then  a  solid  shot  across  our  bows ;  and 
when  near  enough  to  hail  us,  her  officer  ordered  us  in  very 
emphatic  language  to  stop  that  ship  or  he'd  blow  us  out  of 
the  water. 


398  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"  'Hold  on/  I  said,  '^until  I  speak  to  the  engineer/  which  I 
did  through  the  speaking  tube;  but  instead  of  stopping  the 
engines,  he  threw  her  wide  open  and  she  almost  flew  from 
under  our  feet.  Our  neighbors  soon  found  that  we  were  not 
doing  very  much  stopping  and  attempted  to  do  the  stopping 
themselves ;  but  fortunately  for  us  they  failed  to  do  so. 

"My  chief  officer,  a  Virginian,  named  Charles  Nelson  (and 
well  named)  was  ordered  by  me  to  ascertain  the  depth  of  wa- 
ter, as  our  ship  was  approaching  shoal  water  very  rapidly. 
In  his  deliberate  manner  he  went  to  the  leadsman,  found  out, 
and  reported  so  slowly  that  I  reproached  him  for  it.  Said  I, 
'Cannot  even  a  shell  make  you  move  faster?'  (Two  of  them 
had  exploded  between  us  in  the  meantime).  His  answer  was 
'What  is  the  use,  sir  ?  I  might  go  just  fast  enough  to  get  in 
the  way  of  one  of  them.'  This  man  was  afterwards  in  com- 
mand of  the  Armstrong,  bound  from  Wilmington  to  Bermuda, 
about  the  middle  of  ITovember,  1864,  when,  after  success- 
fully eluding  the  vigilance  of  the  blockaders  around  the 
inlet,  he  was  sighted  at  7  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  then 
began — in  my  opinion — the  most  memorable  chase  in  the  war. 
She  was  first  seen  by  the  R.  R.  Cuyler,  which  was  soon  joined 
by  two  other  ships ;  and  the  Armstrong  was  soon  in  the  posi- 
tion of  the  little  hare  and  three  large  hounds  in  pursuit.  The 
Cuyler  was  a  large  screw  steamer  built  for  the  passenger 
trade  between  Savannah  and  ISTew  York.  She  was  named 
after  a  former  president  of  the  Central  Railroad,  and  before 
the  war  was  considered  the  fastest  steamer  out  of  New  York. 
At  10  a.  m.,  the  first  shot  was  fired  from  the  Cuyler,  and  for 
seven  long  hours  Nelson  walked  the  bridge,  cool  and  collected, 
not  more  excited,  in  fact,  than  if  he  was  moored  to  a  dock 
in  a  safe  harbor.  The  Cuyler  alone  fired  195  shot  and  shell. 
The  top  of  the  paddle-box  was  shot  away ;  Nelson,  covered  up 
with  the  wreck,  shook  himself  clear.  An  exploding  shell  set 
fire  to  the  cabin;  the  hose  was  let  down,  the  pumps  turned 
on,  and  the  fire  put  out  with  less  excitement  than  would  be 
seen  at  a  fire  in  any  city  in  time  of  peace.     The  anchors  and 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  399 

chains  were  thrown  overboard,  and  the  masts  were  cut  away. 
More  than  400  bales  of  cotton  were  dumped  into  the  sea,  and 
everything  possible  was  done  to  lighten  the  ship  and  increase 
her  speed ;  but  of  no  avail,  the  sea  was  too  rough  for  the  little 
fugitive  to  compete  with  the  large  ships  that  were  chasing  her. 

"At  5  p.  m.  the  captain  of  the  Cuyler  hailed  Nelson  and 
ordered  him  to  stop  the  ship  or  he  would  blow  them  out  of  the 
water,  (which  seemed  to  be  a  favorite  way  the  blockaders  had 
of  expressing  themselves).  Just  about  that  time  the  Arm- 
strong's engine-frame  broke  in  two,  and  she  was  a  prize. 

"The  first  boat  that  boarded  her  had  in  it  a  lieutenant  and 
a  surgeon;  the  latter,  before  leaving  his  boat  to  go  on  board 
the  Armstrong,  asked:  'How  many  killed  and  wounded?' 
and  strange  to  say  not  a  man  was  scratched.  It  seemed 
miraculous  when  we  consider  that  all  hands,  about  forty  men, 
were  on  deck  engaged  in  throwing  the  cargo  overboard.  One 
of  her  crew  afterwards  told  me  that  he  could  have  filled  a  peck 
measure  with  the  gTape-shot  that  were  gathered  up  about  the 
decks,  and  that  the  pieces  of  shell  were  shoveled  overboard. 
An  oificer  of  the  Cuyler  said  to  one  of  the  prisoners,  'We  have 
captured  twenty-two  blockade  runners,  and  I  think  I  know 
whereof  I  speak  when  I  say  your  captain  is  the  bravest  man 
that  runs  the  blockade.'  The  Armstrong  made  a  trip  to 
Savannah  from  ISTew  York  after  the  war  and  was  called  the 
Savannah. 

"The  leadsman  on  board  a  blockade  runner  occupied  a  very 
responsible  position ;  he  had  to  have  great  physical  endurance 
and  courage.  When  shoal  water  was  reached,  the  safety  of  the 
ship  and  the  lives  of  all  on  board  depended  upon  his  skill  and 
faithfulness.  Were  he  disposed  to  be  treacherous,  he  could 
by  false  soundings,  put  the  ship  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy 
or  run  the  ship  in  the  breakers  and  endanger  the  lives  of  all. 

"My  leadsman  was  a  slave  owned  by  myself.  On  the 
last  trip  of  the  Atalanta,  while  under  fire,  the  ship  going  very 
fast  toward  shoal  water,  I  thought  possibly  he  might  get 
rattled,  and  to  test  him  I  said,  'Irvin,  you  can't  get  correct 
soundings,  the  ship  is  going  too  fast,  I'll  slow  her  down  for 


400  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

you.'  He  answered,  This  is  no  time  to  slow  down,  sir,  you 
let  her  go,  I'll  give  you  the  bottom' ;  and  he  did,  he  being  a 
leadsman  without  a  peer.  I  have  had  him  in  the  chains  for 
hours  in  cold  winter  weather  with  the  spray  flying  over  him, 
cold  enough  to  freeze  the  marrow  in  his  bones,  the  ship  often 
in  very  shoal  water,  frequently  not  a  foot  to  spare  under  her, 
and  sometimes  not  that.  Yet  I  never  knew  him  to  make  a 
mistake  or  give  an  incorrect  cast  of  the  lead.  He  is  the  man 
to  whom,  when  pointing  to  the  island  of  New  Providence,  I 
said,  'Every  man  on  that  island  is  as  free  as  I  am,  so  will  you 
be  when  we  get  there.'  He  answered,  'I  did  not  want  to 
come  here  to  be  free,  I  could  have  gone  to  the  Yankees  long 
ago  if  I  had  wished.'  And  afterward,  when  the  war  was 
over,  I  said  to  him,  'I  am  going  to  England,  perhaps  never  to 
see  Savannah  again,  you  had  better  go  home.'  His  answer 
was,  'I  cannot  go  without  you' ;  and  he  did  not.  The  feeling 
that  existed  between  us  can  only  be  understood  by  Southern 
men ;  by  a  Northern  man,  never. 

"My  brave  old  quartermaster,  William  Cuthbert,  who  had 
been  with  me  in  the  chances  and  changes  of  blockade  running, 
always  took  his  place  at  the  wheel  on  trying  occasions.  He 
had  the  courage  necessary  to  steer  a  ship,  without  flinching, 
through  the  whole  United  States  fleet.  He  was  a  sailor,  every 
inch  of  him.  He  it  was  who,  when  I  heard  a  crash  and 
asked  him  if  ho  was  hurt,  answered:  'We  are  all  right,  sir, 
but  I  do  not  know  how  much  wheel  there  is  left,  and  the 
compass  is  gone ;  give  me  a  star  to  steer  by.'  A  shot  fired  by 
a  ship  astern  of  us  had  passed  the  two  men  at  the  wheel, 
taken  out  two  spokes,  destroyed  the  compass,  and  buried  it- 
self in  the  deck.  He  was  steering  the  ship  as  though  nothing 
unusual  had  happened. 

"While  in  command  of  the  Armstrong,  a  very  poorly  built, 
light  draft,  side-wheel  ship,  on  a  trip  from  Nassau  to  Wil- 
mington, having  experienced  very  heavy  weather,  our  steam- 
pipe  was  injured  to  such  an  extent  that  we  found  it  impos- 
sible to  make  more  than  three  miles  an  hour.  At  that  rate 
of  speed  we  could  not  reach  the  entrance  to  Wilmington  be- 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  401 

fore  daylight,  and  to  remain  at  sea  would  place  us  at  the 
mercy  of  the  cruisers  who  were  then  as  thick  as  bees.  So  we 
shaped  our  course  to  make  the  land  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Georgetown,  S.  C. 

"When  daylight  broke,  the  weather  bitterly  cold,  we  found 
ourselves  sandwiched  between  three  of  the  enemy's  ships  ly- 
ing at  anchor  near  the  entrance  to  Georgetown,  the  farthest 
not  more  than  two  miles  from  us.  "We,  of  course,  ran  away 
from  them  as  fast  as  our  crippled  condition  would  allow,  ex- 
pecting to  be  chased  and  captured  in  short  order,  but  to  our 
surprise  and  delight  they  remained  quietly  at  anchor  and  we 
continued  on  our  course,  and  when  far  enough  to  feel  safe 
circled  around  them  and  came  to  anchor  ourselves  under  the 
beach  near  Little  River  Inlet  and  about  twenty  miles  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear.  This  remarkable  luck  can  only  be 
accoimted  for  by  the  extreme  cold,  which  must  have  prevented 
the  Yankee  ships  from  keeping  a  proper  lookout. 

"After  making  all  preparations  for  setting  fire  to  the  ship 
and  landing  the  people  if  we  should  be  discovered  by  the 
Federals,  we  blew  oif  our  steam  and  proceeded  to  make  tem- 
porary repairs  to  the  steam-pipe. 

"Before  coming  to  anchor  my  attention  was  attracted  to  a 
party  of  six  men  on  shore  making  signals  to  us.  I  sent  a 
boat  and  brought  off  the  men,  who  proved  to  be  Federal 
prisoners  escaped  from  Florence,  S.  C,  and  who,  after  many 
days  of  suffering  in  a  strange  country,  had  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  coast  only  to  find  themselves  prisoners  on  board 
of  a  blockade  runner  instead  of  one  of  Uncle  Sam's  gun- 
boats, which  they  fondly  imagined  us  to  be.  One  poor 
fellow  remarked :  'I  believe  the  dogs  would  catch  a  fellow 
in  this  country ;  this  is  the  third  time  I  have  escaped,  only  to 
be  recaptured  each  time.' 

"I  had  on  board  at  this  time  seven  Confederates  who  had 
escaped  from  Johnson's  Island,  and  whom  it  was  my  good 
fortune  to  come  across  in  Halifax,  N".  S.  Having  been  on 
board  ship  some  time,  they  were  anxious  to  get  on  shore,  so  I 
landed  and  found  that  we  had  anchored  in  the  neighborhood 


402  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

of  some  salt  works,  which  were  quite  numerous  on  this  coast, 
and  whose  fires  at  night  frequently  served  us  in  lieu  of  light- 
houses. 

"While  ashore  I  secured  transportation  by  wagons,  and 
sent  my  prisoners  in  charge  of  the  seven  Confederates  across 
to  the  railroad  and  to  Wilmington,  where  they  met  me  the 
next  day.  While  lying  at  anchor  with  no  steam  and  perfectly 
helpless  three  of  the  enemy's  ships  passed  us  almost  close 
enough  to  see  the  men  on  deck,  but  took  no  notice  of  us,  evi- 
dently mistaking  us  for  one  of  their  own  ships.  At  dark, 
having  completed  the  necessary  repairs  to  the  steam-pipe,  we 
weighed  our  anchor  and  at  11  p.  m.  were  safely  anchored 
under  the  guns  of  Fort  Caswell. 

"At  one  time  I  was  one  of  a  party  of  four,  who  were  wait- 
ing at  the  island  of  Bermuda  for  a  new  ship.  We  became  tired 
of  the  poor  hotel,  kept  by  a  Northern  man  of  whom  we  were 
not  very  fond,  but  whose  hostelry  was  the  only  one  there. 
Having  an  opportunity  to  do  so,  we  rented  a  furnished  cot- 
tage, and  for  a  little  while  enjoyed  the  comforts  of  a  bache- 
lors' hall.  Among  our  visitors  were  the  officers  of  the  Army 
and  Navy  stationed  there,  and  we  became  very  good  friends 
with  most  of  them.  They  professed  to  be  warm  Southern 
sympathizers  while  under  our  spiritual  influence,  and  it  was 
not  long  before  I  had  the  opportunity  to  test  the  good  will  of 
one  of  them. 

"Some  time  in  October,  1864,  I  was  anchored  a  few  miles 
from  Nassau,  taking  in  a  lot  of  arms  and  ammunition  from 
a  schooner  alongside.  We  were  all  ready  to  sail,  with  the 
exception  of  this  lighter  load,  and  had  our  fires  banked,  ready 
to  get  steam  at  a  moment's  notice.  The  American  consul 
found  out  and  notified  the  British  authorities  that  we  were 
taking  in  contraband  of  war,  and  an  officer  was  sent  from  the 
British  frigate,  then  in  port,  to  investigate.  As  soon  as  the 
unwelcome  visitor  was  seen  approaching,  the  engineer  was 
ordered  to  pull  down  his  fires,  and  to  be  prepared  to  leave  at 
once.  Anxiously  watching  the  approaching  boat,  I  recognized 
the  officer  to  be  an  old  Bermuda  acquaintance.  Lieutenant 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  403 

Wilson,  who  had  partaken  of  our  hospitality  at  our  bachelors' 
cottage.  As  he  came  alongside,  I  said:  'Hello,  Wilson! 
What  brought  you  here  V  He  answered :  'It  is  reported  that 
you  are  taking  in  contraband  of  war,  and  I  am  sent  to  look 
after  you.' 

''As  he  came  over  the  side  a  case  of  rifles  was  being  hoisted 
in  from  the  other  side.  'What  have  you  there,'  he  asked. 
'Hardware,'  I  said.  'Would  you  like  to  examine  that  case 
now,  or  will  you  come  below  and  have  a  glass  of  wine  first  V 

"He  decided  to  take  the  wine  first,  and  spent  quite  a  while 
sampling  some  excellent  green  seal  and  indulging  in  reminis- 
cences of  the  pleasant  days  spent  together  at  Bermuda,  and 
when  it  was  time  to  return  to  his  ship  he  had  forgotten  to 
examine  the  cases  of  hardware,  which  were  being  hurried 
over  the  side  in  the  meantime.  Eeturning  to  his  boat,  not 
without  some  assistance,  as  he  did  not  seem  to  have  his  sea- 
legs  aboard,  he  bade  me  farewell,  saying :  'Usina,  take  good 
care  of  that  hardware  ;  that  hardware,  you  know.' 

"Before  he  reached  his  ship  and  another  boat  could  be  sent, 
the  hardware  was  all  on  board,  and  the  Armstrong  was 
steaming  for  Dixie,  where  the  hardware  was  soon  in  the 
hands  of  men  who  knew  something  about  that  kind  of  hard- 
ware. 

"While  blockade  runners  dreaded  moonlight,  and  gladly 
availed  themselves  of  dark  night  and  stormy  weather  to  run 
into  the  Confederate  ports  or  out  of  them,  yet  on  several  oc- 
casions the  gauntlet  was  run  successfully  in  the  daytime. 

"On  one  occasion  we  reached  the  neighborhood  of  the 
blockaders  off  Wilmington  in  a  gale  of  wind.  The  sea  was  so 
heavy  that  if  we  should  get  ashore  it  meant  the  destruction  of 
the  ship  and  the  loss  of  all  hands,  so  we  determined,  if  we 
could  live  the  night  through,  (of  which  there  was  consider- 
able doubt)  to  make  a  dash  for  it  at  daylight. 

"Just  as  the  day  dawned  we  found  ourselves  alongside  the 
U.  S.  steamship  Huntsville,  (an  old  Savannah  trader)  which 
immediately  gave  chase  and  commenced  firing  at  us.  The 
noise  of  the  guns  attracted  the  attention  of  the  other  vessels, 

27 


404  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

and  we  soon  found  ourselves  in  a  hornet's  nest.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  rough  sea,  however,  their  firing  was  very  in- 
accurate, and  the  batteries  near  Fort  Caswell  soon  began 
firing  over  us  at  them  as  fast  as  they  came  within  range, 
causing  them  to  keep  at  a  respectful  distance,  to  cease  firing 
at  us,  and  haul  off  as  we  neared  the  fort,  so  that  it  was  not 
very  long  before  we  were  in  a  position  to  receive  the  con- 
gratulations of  our  friends  over  our  lucky  escape. 

"On  another  occasion  I  made  the  land  between  Georgetown 
and  Wilmington  in  the  afternoon,  and  as  the  night  would 
soon  be  upon  us  I  thought  I  would  get  a  look  at  the  enemy 
before  dark.  Accordingly  I  steamed  slowly  towards  them, 
keeping  a  bright  lookout. 

"As  we  approached  Lockwood's  Folly  Inlet,  twelve  miles 
from  Fort  Caswell,  it  became  apparent  that  the  ship  stationed 
there  to  guard  that  point  was  absent  from  her  post,  and  if  we 
could  reach  there  without  being  seen  by  the  other  ships,  there 
was  a  chance  that  we  could  gain  the  protection  of  our  batteries 
before  they  could  head  us  off,  and  we  determined  to  try  it. 
As  we  rounded  the  point  of  shoals  off  Lockwood's'  Folly,  we 
came  in  full  view  of  all  their  ships  (it  seemed  to  me  that 
there  were  hundreds  of  them).  They  at  once  recognized  our 
character  and  purpose,  and  then  began  a  most  exciting  race 
for  a  given  point,  our  ship  going  for  all  she  was  worth,  hug- 
ging the  shore  and  depending  upon  the  leadsman  to  keep  her 
afloat ;  the  enemy's  ships  were  coming  in  to  head  us  off  and  the 
booming  of  their  guns  reminded  me  of  the  music  of  a  pack 
of  hounds  in  full  chase,  but  on  this  particular  occasion  I 
failed  to  appreciate  the  music.  The  signal  station,  located 
between  Lockwood's  Folly  and  Fort  Caswell,  signaling  the 
fort,  the  commanding  officer  rushed  a  couple  of  Whitworth 
guns  down  the  beach  in  our  direction,  and  in  a  little  while 
we  heard  the  welcome  sound  of  their  shots  going  over  our 
heads,  and  we  were  safe.  From  the  time  we  were  seen  by  the 
enemy  until  we  were  under  the  protection  of  our  guns  did  not 
occupy  more  than  forty-five  minutes,  but  to  us  it  seemed  an 
age. 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  405 

"One  of  tlie  most  valuable  cargoes  ever  brought  into  tbe 
Confederacy  was  brought  in  by  the  old  cruiser  Sumter,  con- 
verted into  a  blockade  runner  and  commanded  by  E.  C.  Reed. 
Her  cargo  consisted  of  arms,  ammunition,  clothing,  cloth, 
medicines,  and  not  the  least  important  articles  were  the  two 
big  Blakely  gains,  which  some  of  you  now  present  may  have 
seen  mounted  at  Charleston.  They  were  so  large  and  un- 
wieldy that  they  were  loaded  with  their  muzzles  sticking  out 
of  the  hatches. 

"The  Sumter  was  a  slow  ship,  and  could  not  make  more 
than  nine  miles  an  hour.  Unable  to  get  in  during  the  night, 
Reed  found  himself  near  the  enemy's  ships  at  daylight.  To 
attempt  to  go  off  shore  with  so  slow  a  ship  meant  a  chase  and 
certain  capture.  So  he  determined  to  try  a  game  of  bluff. 
Hoisting  the  American  ensign,  he  steamed  in  amongst  them, 
paying  not  the  least  attention  to  their  signals  or  movements, 
and  when  they  awoke  to  the  fact  that  the  Sumter  was  not  one 
of  themselves,  she  had  the  inside  track  and  was  soon  welcomed 
by  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher. 

"The  devotion  of  the  women  of  the  Confederacy,  and  their 
heroic  conduct  during  our  struggle  for  existence,  will  always 
be  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  the  veterans  of  the  Lost 
Cause.  In  my  career  as  a  blockade  runner  I  chanced  to  see 
several  instances  of  nerve  displayed  by  them,  which  would 
do  honor  to  an  old  soldier.  On  one  of  our  trips  from  Ber- 
muda to  Wilmington  I  had  with  me  as  a  passenger  a  lady 
from  Richmond.  On  nearing  the  blockaders  I  sent  her  down 
to  the  cabin,  which  was  below  the  water  line  and  compara- 
tively safe  while  we  were  under  fire.  A  little  later,  during  the 
hot  chase  and  fire  which  we  had  to  take,  I  heard  a  voice  at 
my  elbow,  and  turning,  saw  her  at  my  side.  I  said :  'I  told 
you  to  go  below  and  stay  there' ;  but  she  answered,  'I  could 
not  remain  there  in  the  darkness,  hearing  the  guns;  if  you 
will  let  me  remain  here  I'll  give  you  no  trouble.'  'Well,  you 
may  remain,'  I  told  her,  'but  you  must  not  speak  to  any  one.' 
She  never  left  the  bridge  until  we  were  safely  anchored  under 


406  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  gims  of  Fort  Caswell,  and  I  think  was  the  coolest  person 
on  board  the  ship. 

"Upon  another  occasion  the  steamer  Lynx,  Capt.  E.  C. 
Keed,  while  attempting  to  get  into  Wilmington,  was  com- 
pletely riddled  bj  the  enemy's  ships,  and,  finding  her  in  a 
sinking  condition,  she  ^vas  run  ashore  near  Fort  Fisher,  to 
prevent  her  sinking  in  deep  water,  the  crew  escaping  to  the 
beach  in  the  small  boats.  A  lady  passenger,  a  resident  of  Wil- 
mington, was  sent  below  when  the  firing  began,  where  she  re- 
mained until  the  boats  were  ready  to  land  on  the  beach ;  she 
was  found  standing  knee  deep  in  the  water,  obeying  orders 
'to  remain  until  sent  for.' 

"One  more  incident  and  I  am  done  with  the  ladies. 
During  the  bombardment  of  Sumter  our  ship  was  selected, 
on  account  of  her  speed,  to  take  important  dispatches  from 
the  Confederacy  to  Europe,  and  we  had  on  board  as  passen- 
gers a  bridal  couple.  We  had  to  pass  out  through  a  terrible 
cross  fire  from  the  batteries  on  Morris  Island  and  James 
Island  and  the  ironclads  anchored  in  Morris  Island  channel, 
which  was  returned  by  Sumter,  Moultrie,  Ripley,  Castle 
Pinckney,  and  the  Confederate  vessels.  After  passing 
through  the  fireworks  display  in  the  neighborhood  of  Sumter, 
the  vessels  outside  the  bar  made  it  lively  for  us,  but  daylight 
found  us  well  to  sea  with  no  enemy  in  sight.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  the  firing,  my  attention  was  attracted  to  the  bridal 
couple.  The  groom  had  himself  spread  out  upon  the  deck 
load  of  cotton,  while  the  bride  was  standing  quietly  near  by. 
I  said  to  her,  'Are  you  not  frightened,  Mrs.  B.  ?'  'Yes,  I  am 
frightened,'  she  said,  'this  is  terrible,  but  we  are  in  the  hands 
of  the  Almighty.'  You  can  imagine  the  respect  I  enter- 
tained ever  after  for  the  gentleman  who,  with  such  an  example 
before  him,  displayed  such  arrant  cowardice. 

"Sailors  have  always  been  charged  with  being  supersti- 
tious, but  while  I  do  not  think  there  is  any  superstition  in 
my  composition,  yet  I  think  blockade  running  was  a  business 
well  calculated  to  develop  it,  as  is  indicated,  for  instance,  in 
the  names  of  some  of  the  ships,  the  Phantom,  Will-o'-ihe- 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  407 

Wisp,  Banshee,  Whisper,  Dream,  Owl,  Bat  and  others  of  like 
character,  the  usual  objection  to  sailing  on  Friday,  the  car- 
rying of  a  corpse,  etc.  One  of  the  funniest  notions  that  came 
under  my  observation  was  that  if  a  passage  could  be  obtained 
or  freight  shipped  with  a  certain  cross-eyed  Captain  K.  it 
would  be  a  success. 

"While,  as  I  said,  I  do  not  think  I  am  given  to  superstition, 
yet  I  had  with  me  a  mascot  that,  I  believe,  was  at  that  time 
one  of  the  most  widely  known  dogs  that  ever  existed.  I  was 
known  as  the  man  that  owned  the  dog!  He  was  photo- 
graphed at  Bermuda,  and  the  artist  realized  quite  a  neat  sum 
from  the  sale  of  his  pictures.  He  was  left  with  me  by  a 
shipmate  who  died  at  sea,  and  when  dying  frequently  called 
for  ^Tinker.'  I  cherished  him  for  his  master's  sake,  and 
afterwards  became  warmly  attached  to  him  for  his  own.  He 
was  a  terrier,  a  great  ratter,  and  fond  of  the  water.  He  was 
my  constant  companion.  He  seemed  to  know  when  we  were 
approaching  the  enemy,  and  to  be  on  the  alert,  and  when 
under  fire  would  follow  me  step  by  step. 

"It  was  our  custom,  in  anticipation  of  capture  or  destruc- 
tion of  the  ship,  to  prepare  the  boats  for  leaving  the  ship  the 
afternoon  before  running  through  the  fleet.  'Tinker'  seemed 
to  inspect  the  work  and  to  devote  most  particular  attention 
to  the  Captain's  boat.  The  sailors  wondered  how  he  knew 
one  boat  from  another,  but  he  certainly  did. 

"When  I  placed  my  chief  officer,  ISTelson,  in  command  of  the 
Armstrong,  I  induced  some  of  my  men  whom  I  knew  could 
be  depended  upon  to  go  with  him,  as  I  was  more  than  anx- 
ious to  have  him  succeed.  Among  those  that  I  approached 
was  my  old  stand-by,  William  Cuthbert.  His  answer  was, 
'I  do  not  like  to  refuse  you,  but  I  am  too  old  a  man  now 
to  go  to  Fort  Lafayette  in  the  winter  time ;  and  if  you  leave 
the  ship  and  take  "Tinker"  with  you  I  know  we  vdll  be  cap- 
tured.' I  said  to  him,  'I  am  surprised  to  hear  a  man  of  your 
intelligence  express  yourself  in  that  way.  What  has  the  dog 
to  do  with  the  safety  of  the  ship?  I  am  ashamed  of  you.' 
'Well,  sir,'  he  replied,  'you  may  call  it  superstition,  or  any- 


408  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

thing  you  please,  but  as  sure  as  you  leave  the  ship  and  take 
"Tinker"  with  you  we  will  be  captured.'  After  considerable 
persuasion  he  consented,  very  unwillingly,  to  go,  saying, 
'I'll  go  in  the  ship  to  please  you,  sir,  but,  I  know  how 
it  will  be.'  The  ship  was  captured ;  and  when  we  met  again 
his  first  words  were :    'I  told  you  so,  sir.' 

"I  had  with  me  as  chief  officer  an  Englishman,  who  was  a 
very  intelligent  shipmaster.  He  was  promoted  to  command, 
and  when  about  to  try  his  luck,  came  to  me,  saying,  'Captain, 
let  me  have  "Tinker"  just  for  one  trip  and  here  is  five  hun- 
dred dollars  in  gold.'  I  said,  'Green,  two  fools,  you  and  I' ; 
but  I  did  not  let  him  have  the  dog.  I  could  relate  a  great 
number  of  incidents  to  illustrate  the  value  placed  upon 
'Tinker'  by  blockade  runners,  but  I'll  inflict  only  one  more 
upon  you. 

"I  sailed  for  Wilmington  from  Bermuda  in  the  steamship 
Rattlesnake  about  the  20th  of  January,  1865.  Eight  hours 
after  I  left  Bermuda,  Captain  Maffitt,in  command  of  the  Owl, 
arrived  at  Nassau  with  the  news  that  the  forts  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Cape  Fear  River  had  fallen.  My  friends  at  the  island 
thought  I  was  sure  to  be  captured.  Col.  James  Crenshaw, 
who  before  the  war  was  a  criminal  lawyer,  practicing  in 
Richmond,  and  at  this  time  was  part  owner  and  agent  of  our 
ships  at  the  islands,  had  been  a  sailor  in  his  young  days,  and 
certainly  not  an  ignorant  one.  When  told  of  the  great 
danger  of  capture  to  which  we  were  exposed,  he  told  my 
wife  to  make  herself  easy,  as  I  had  'Tinker'  with  me,  and  I 
was  all  right.  Upon  approaching  Nassau  a  few  days  after- 
wards he,  pointing  to  my  flag,  said:  'There  is  the  Rattle- 
snake; didn't  I  tell  you  so  V  I  was  lying  at  anchor  in  the 
harbor.  I  think  this  was  the  last  attempt  made  to  get  into 
Wilmington,  and  an  account  of  it  may  interest  you. 

"We  reached  the  coast  early  in  the  night,  in  fact  before  it 
was  yet  dark,  but  quite  hazy ;  so  much  so  that  we  could  not 
see  a  ship  any  distance,  when  suddenly  I  found  myself  sur- 
rounded by  a  great  number  of  lights.  When  you  remember 
that  the  ships  of  the  blockade  squadrons  were  always  in  dark- 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  409 

ness,  witli  no  lights  set,  you  can  imagine  my  surprise.  Pro- 
ceeding toward  the  entrance  we  found  our  passage  almost  ob- 
structed by  the  enemy's  ships,  they  were  so  many,  and 
stranger  than  all,  not  a  shot  fired  at  us,  and  no  one  demanding 
that  we  either  'stop  that  ship,  or  he'd  blow  us  out  of  the 
water.'  We  approached  Fort  Fisher  near  enough  to  call  the 
sigTial  ofiicer,  who  responded  instantly.  I  remarked  to  my 
signal  officer :  '^There  is  something  up,  I  never  had  so  prompt 
an  answer  before ;  they  are  on  the  alert  tonight.' 

"We  reported :  'Steamship  Rattlesnake,  bound  in,  set  range 
lights.'  An  answer  came  as  quick  as  thought:  'AH  right, 
the  lights  will  be  set.'  We  signaled  our  respects  to  Colonel 
Lamb,  and  asked  about  his  health.  The  answer  was:  'The 
Colonel  is  quite  well.  (He  was  then  lying  dangerously 
wounded).  How  are  all  on  board,  and  what  is  the  news 
from  Bermuda  ?'  I  instructed  the  officer  to  amuse  himself 
talking  to  them,  and  that  I  was  going  aloft,  which  I  did,  and 
as  I  reached  the  masthead  and  could  look  over  the  low  sand 
hills  which  line  the  ISTorth  Carolina  coast,  I  could  see  the 
camp  fires  of  the  armies,  and  decided  that  either  there  had 
been  an  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  or  there  soon  would  be  one. 
Upon  reaching  the  deck  I  said  to  the  pilot:  'The  tide  is 
falling,  and  I  think  we  will  not  take  the  risk  on  a  falling  tide. 
I  will  wait  until  the  flood  tide  makes,  and  go  in  just  before 
daylight.  I  remained  among  the  fleet  the  best  part  of  the 
night.  I  counted  seven  monitors ;  we  came  very  near  collid- 
ing with  three  of  them,  and  not  a  word  was  said  and  not  a 
shot  was  fired.  I  concluded  that  we  had  met  with  a  very 
cool  reception,  and  it  was  not  a  healthy  place  for  us  just  then ; 
so,  at  2  a.  m.,  I  shaped  our  course  for  JSTassau.  When,  upon 
arrival  there,  I  asked  the  pilot  what  was  the  news  from  Wil- 
mington, he  answered:  'Wilmington  has  gone  up  the  spout, 
sir.'  I  learned  afterwards  that  several  ships  had  gone  in  and 
congratulated  themselves  upon  getting  in  so  easily;  but  to 
their  dismay,  when  the  boarding  officer  came  on  board,  he 
wore  the  blue  instead  of  the  gray.  At  the  fall  of  Fort 
Fisher  our  signal-book  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and 


410  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

all  that  was  necessary  was  to  draw  the  ships  in  and  take  pos- 
session, which  accounted  for  our  not  being  shot  at. 

"Aiter  the  surrender,  on  mj  way  to  England,  I  buried  my 
faithful  'Tinker'  among  the  icebergs  of  the  N'orth  Atlantic, 
and  every  man  on  board  stood  with  uncovered  head  when  he 
was  consigned  to  his  watery  grave.  When  blockade  running 
ceased,  his  spirits  drooped,  his  occupation  gone,  and  he  soon 
sickened  and  died. 

"His  master  felt  much  the  same  way,  but  survived.  It  was 
one  of  the  saddest  moments  of  my  life.  The  Confederacy,  of 
whose  success  I  had  never  lost  hope,  no  longer  in  existence ; 
leaving  my  native  land,  as  I  then  thought  never  more  to 
return.  I  felt  that  all  the  ties  that  I  had  formed  during  my 
childhood  and  youth  were  become  mere  memories;  that  all 
the  fast  friends  that  I  had  made  during  our  bitter  fight,  were 
to  be  only  as  some  much-loved  hero  of  a  favorite  novel,  with 
whom  we  become  very  familiar  until  the  tale  is  all  told,  and 
who  then  passes  out  of  mind  and  is  never  heard  of  more.  But 
it  was  ordained  otherwise,  and  I  am  happy  now  to  be  in  my 
old  home,  meeting  everywhere  men  whose  sympathies  in  that 
grand  struggle  were  the  same  as  my  own,  and  who  feel  as 
I  do,  that  though  our  fighting  days  are  over,  the  memory  of 
our  dead  comrades  is  strong  enough  to  bind  us  to  each  other 
until  we  all  shall  be  called  away  to  join  them  in  the  land  of 
eternal  peace." 

THOMAS  E.  TAYLOR 

Several  large  and  important  shipping  firms  in  Liverpool 
were  interested  in  blockade  running  at  Wilmington,  and 
each  of  these  houses  owned  and  operated  from  five  to  ten  of 
the  most  successful  boats. 

A  young  gentleman,  Thomas  E.  Taylor,  scarcely  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  was  sent  out  from  England  to  represent  a 
firm  which  ultimately  designed  and  ran  some  of  the  finest 
ships  engaged  in  this  perilous,  though  profitable  business ; 
but  it  may  be  doubted  if  the  company  with  whom  he  was 
associated  or  any  other  owuers  realized,  in  the  end,  large 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  411 

profits  on  their  ventures,  because,  while  the  returns  were 
very  large  under  favorable  conditions,  the  frequent  losses  by 
capture  and  the  final  fall  of  the  Confederacy,  which  left 
them  with  ships  unsalable  for  ordinary  trade,  so  reduced  their 
earnings  that  the  game  was  scarcely  worth  the  candle. 

In  1896  Mr.  Taylor  published  a  most  readable  book  en- 
titled Running  the  Blockade,  in  which  he  tells  most  graphi- 
cally some  of  his  extraordinary  experiences.  He  was  much 
liked  by  all  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  know  him,  and  I 
well  remember  his  genial,  happy  spirits  and  his  masterful 
leadership  into  danger  when  duty  called  him  in  the  interest 
of  his  employers.  I  quote  from  his  narrative  an  exciting 
incident  which  made  a  sensation  in  blockade  running  circles 
at  the  time : 

"The  reason  for  my  leaving  the  Banshee  was  the  arrival 
at  iNTassau  of  a  new  steamer  which  my  firm  had  sent  out  to 
me.  This  was  the  Will-o'-the-Wisp,  and  great  things  were  ex- 
pected from  her.  She  was  built  on  the  Clyde  and  was  a 
much  larger  and  faster  boat  than  the  Banshee,  but  shame- 
fully put  together  and  most  fragile.  My  first  introduction 
to  her  was  seeing  her  appear  off  jSTassau,  and  receiving  a 
message  by  the  pilot-boat  from  Capper,  the  captain,  to  say 
that  the  vessel  was  leaking  badly  and  he  dare  not  stop  his 
engines,  as  they  had  to  be  kept  going  in  order  to  work  the 
pumps.  We  brought  her  into  the  harbor,  and  having  beached 
her  and  afterwards  made  all  necessary  repairs  on  the  slip- 
way, I  decided  to  take  a  trip  in  her. 

"As  soon  as  the  nights  were  sufficiently  dark  we  made  a 
start  for  Wilmington,  unfortunately  meeting  very  bad  wea- 
ther and  strong  head  winds,  which  delayed  us ;  the  result  was 
that  instead  of  making  out  the  blockading  fleet  about  mid- 
night, as  we  had  intended,  when  dawn  was  breaking  there 
were  still  no  signs  of  them.  Capper,  the  chief  engineer,  and 
I  then  held  a  hurried  consultation  as  to  what  we  had  better 
do.  Capper  was  for  going  to  sea  again,  and  if  necessary  re- 
turning to  Nassau;  the  weather  was  still  threatening,  our 
coal  supply  running  short,  and,  with  a  leaky  ship  beneath  us, 


412  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  engineer  and  I  decided  that  the  lesser  risk  would  be  to 
make  a  dash  for  it.  'All  right/  said  Capper.  "We'll  go  on, 
but  you'll  get  d d  well  peppered !' 

"We  steamed  cautiously  on,  making  as  little  smoke  as  pos- 
sible, whilst  I  went  to  the  masthead  to  take  a  look  around; 
no  land  was  in  sight,  but  I  could  make  out  in  the  dull  morn- 
ing light  the  heavy  spars  of  the  blockading  flagship  right 
ahead  of  us,  and  soon  after  several  other  masts  became  visible 
on  each  side  of  her.  Picking  out  what  appeared  to  me  to  be 
the  widest  space  between  these,  I  signaled  to  the  deck  how 
to  steer,  and  we  went  steadily  on — determined  when  we 
found  we  were  perceived  to  make  a  rush  for  it.  No  doubt 
our  very  audacity  helped  us  through,  as  for  some  time  they 
took  no  notice,  evidently  thinking  we  were  one  of  their  own 
chasers  returning  from  sea  to  take  up  her  station  for  the 
day. 

"At  last,  to  my  great  relief,  I  saw  Fort  Fisher  just  ap- 
jDearing  above  the  horizon,  although  we  knew  that  the  per- 
ilous passage  between  these  blockaders  must  be  made  before 
we  could  come  under  the  friendly  protection  of  its  guns. 
Suddenly  we  became  aware  that  our  enemy  had  found  us 
out ;  we  saw  two  cruisers  steaming  towards  one  another  from 
either  side  of  us,  so  as  to  intercept  us  at  a  given  point  before 
we  could  get  on  the  land  side  of  them.  It  now  became  simply 
a  question  of  speed  and  immunity  from  being  sunk  by  shot. 
Our  little  vessel  quivered  under  the  tremendous  pressure 
with  which  she  was  being  driven  through  the  water. 

"An  exciting  time  followed,  as  we  and  our  two  enemies 
rapidly  converged  upon  one  point,  other  ships  in  the  dis- 
tance also  hurrying  up  to  assist  them.  We  were  now  near 
enough  to  be  within  range,  and  the  cruiser  on  our  port  side 
opened  fire;  his  first  shot  carried  away  our  flagstaff  aft,  on 
which  our  ensign  had  just  been  hoisted;  his  second  tore 
through  our  forehold,  bulging  out  a  plate  on  the  opposite  side. 
Bedding  and  blankets  to  stop  the  leak  were  at  once  requisi- 
tioned, and  we  steamed  on  full  speed  under  a  heavy  fire  from 
both  quarters.        Suddenly,   puffs   of  smoke  from  the   fort 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  413 

showed  us  that  Colonel  Lamb,  the  commandant,  was  aware 
of  what  was  going  on  and  was  firing  to  protect  us ;  a  welcome 
proof  that  we  were  drawing  within  range  of  his  guns  and  on 
the  landside  of  our  pursuers,  who,  after  giving  us  a  few  more 
parting  shots,  hauled  off  and  steamed  away  from  within  reach 
of  the  shells,  which  we  were  rejoiced  to  see  falling  thickly 
around  them. 

"We  had  passed  through  a  most  thrilling  experience;  at 
one  time  the  cruiser  on  our  port  side  was  only  a  hundred 
yards  away  from  us  with  her  consort  a  hundred  and  fifty  on 
the  starboard,  and  it  seemed  a  miracle  that  their  double  fire 
did  not  completely  sink  us.  It  certainly  required  all  one's 
nerve  to  stand  upon  the  paddle-box,  looking  without  flinching 
almost  into  the  muzzles  of  the  guns  which  were  being  fired 
at  us ;  and  proud  we  were  of  our  crew,  not  a  man  of  whom 
showed  the  white  feather.  Our  pilot,  who  showed  no  lack 
of  courage  at  the  time,  became,  however,  terribly  excited  as 
we  neared  the  bar,  and  whether  it  was  that  the  ship  steered 
badly,  owing  to  being  submerged  forward  or  from  some  mis- 
take, he  ran  her  ashore  whilst  going  at  full  speed.  The  re- 
sult was  a  most  frightful  shaking,  which  of  course  materially 
increased  the  leaks,  and  we  feared  the  ship  would  become  a 
total  wreck;  fortunately  the  tide  was  rising,  and,  through 
lightening  her  by  throwing  some  of  the  cargo  overboard,  we 
succeeded  in  getting  her  off  and  steamed  up  the  river  to 
Wilmington,  where  we  placed  her  on  the  mud. 

"After  repairing  the  shot  holes  and  other  damage,  we  were 
under  the  impression  that  no  further  harm  from  running 
ashore  had  come  to  her,  as  all  leaks  were  apparently  stopped 
and  the  ship  was  quite  tight.  The  result  proved  us  to  be 
sadly  wrong  on  this  point.  After  loading  our  usual  cargo 
we  started  down  the  river  all  right,  and  waited  for  nightfall 
in  order  to  cross  the  bar  and  run  through  the  fleet.  N"o  sooner 
had  we  crossed  it  and  found  ourselves  surrounded  by  cruisers 
than  the  chief  engineer  rushed  on  to  the  bridge,  saying  the 
water  was  already  over  the  stoke-hole  plates,  and  he  feared 
that  the  ship  was  sinking.     At  the  same  moment  a  quantity 


414  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

of  firewood  which  was  stowed  around  one  of  the  funnels  (and 
which  was  intended  to  eke  out  our  somewhat  scanty  coal 
supply)  caught  fire,  and  fiames  burst  out. 

"This  placed  us  in  a  pretty  predicament,  as  it  showed  our 
whereabouts  to  the  two  cruisers  which  were  following  us,  one 
on  each  quarter.  They  at  once  opened  a  furious  cannonade 
upon  us;  however,  although  shells  were  bursting  all  around 
and  shot  flying  over  us,  all  hands  worked  with  a  will,  and  we 
soon  extinguished  the  flames,  which  were  acting  as  a  treach- 
erous beacon  to  our  foes.  Fortunately,  the  night  was  in- 
tensely dark  and  nothing  could  be  seen  beyond  a  radius  of 
thirty  or  forty  yards,  so,  thanks  to  this,  we  were  soon  enabled, 
by  altering  our  helm,  to  give  our  pursuers  the  slip  whilst  they 
probably  kept  on  their  course. 

"We  had  still  the  other  enemy  to  deal  with ;  but  our  chief 
engineer  and  his  staif  had  meanwhile  been  hard  at  work  and 
had  turned  on  the  'bilge-injection'  and  'donkey-pumps.' 
Still,  the  leak  was  gaining  upon  us,  and  it  became  evident 
that  the  severe  shaking  which  the  ship  got  when  run  aground 
had  started  the  plates  in  her  bottom.  The  mud  had  been 
sucked  up  when  she  lay  in  the  river  at  Wilmington,  thus 
temporarily  repairing  the  damage ;  but  when  she  got  into  the 
sea-way  the  action  of  the  water  opened  them  again.  Even 
the  steam  pumps  now  could  not  prevent  the  water  from  gTadu- 
ally  increasing;  four  of  our  eight  furnaces  were  extin- 
guished, and  the  firemen  were  working  up  to  their  middles 
in  water. 

"It  was  a  critical  time  when  daylight  broke,  dull  and 
threatening.  The  captain  was  at  the  wheel  and  I  at  the 
masthead  (all  other  hands  being  employed  at  the  pumps,  and 
even  baling),  when,  not  four  miles  off,  I  sighted  a  cruiser 
broadside  on.  She  turned  around  as  if  preparing  to  give 
chase,  and  I  thought  we  were  done  for,  as  we  could  not  have 
got  more  than  three  or  four  knots  an  hour  out  of  our  crippled 
boat.  To  my  great  joy,  however,  I  found  our  alarm  was 
needless,  for  she  evidently  had  not  seen  us,  and,  instead  of 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  415 

heading,  turned  her  stern  towards  us  and  disappeared  into  a 
thick  bank  of  clouds. 

"Still  we  were  far  from  being  out  of  danger,  as  the  weather 
became  worse  and  worse  and  the  wind  increased  in  force 
until  it  was  blowing  almost  a  gale.  Things  began  to  look  as 
ugly  as  they  could,  and  even  Capper  lost  hope.  I  shall 
never  forget  the  expression  on  his  face  as  he  came  up  to  me 
and  said,  in  his  gruff  voice,  'I  say,  Mr.  Taylor,  the  beggar's 
going,  the  beggar's  going,'  pointing  vehemently  downwards. 
'What  the  devil  do  you  mean!'  I  exclaimed.  'Why,  we  are 
going  to  lose  the  ship  and  our  lives,  too,'  was  the  answer.  It  is 
not  possible  for  any  one  unacquainted  with  Capper  to  appre- 
ciate this  scene.  Sturdy,  thickset,  nearly  as  broad  as  he  was 
long,  and  with  the  gruffest  manner  but  kindest  heart,  although 
a  rough  diamond,  and  absolutely  without  fear.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  Steele,  he  was  the  best  blockade  running  captain 
we  had. 

"In  order  to  save  the  steamer  and  our  lives  we  decided 
that  desperate  remedies  must  be  resorted  to,  so  again  the  un- 
lucky deck  cargo  had  to  be  sacrified.  The  good  effect  of  this 
was  soon  visible;  we  began  to  gain  on  the  water,  and  were 
able,  by  degrees,  to  re-light  our  extinguished  fires.  But  the 
struggle  continued  to  be  a  most  severe  one,  for  just  when  we 
began  to  obtain  a  mastery  over  the  water  the  donkey-engine 
broke  down,  and  before  we  could  repair  it  the  water  increased 
sensibly,  nearly  putting  out  our  fires  again.  So  the  struggle 
went  on  for  sixty  hours,  when  we  were  truly  thankful  to  steam 
into  Nassau  harbor  and  beach  the  ship.  It  was  a  very 
narrow  escape,  for  within  twenty  minutes  after  stopping  her 
engines  the  vessel  had  sunk  to  the  level  of  the  water. 

"I  had  the  Will-o'-the-Wisp  raised,  hauled  up  on  the  slip, 
and  repaired  at  an  enormous  expense  before  she  was  fit  again 
for  sea.  Subsequently  she  made  several  trips,  but  as  I  found 
her  a  constant  source  of  delay  and  expenditure  I  decided  to 
sell  her.  After  having  her  cobbled  up  with  plenty  of  putty 
and  paint,  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  obtain  negotiations  with 
some  speculators  with  a  view  to  her  purchase.     Having  set- 


416  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

tied  all  preliminaries,  we  arranged  for  a  trial  trip,  and  after 
a  very  sumptuous  lunch,  I  proceeded  to  run  her  over  a  meas- 
ured mile  for  the  benefit  of  the  would-be  purchasers.  I 
need  scarcely  mention  that  we  subjected  her  machinery  to 
the  utmost  strain,  bottling  up  steam  to  a  pressure  of  which 
our  present  Board  of  Trade,  with  its  motherly  care  of  our 
lives,  would  express  strong  disapproval.  The  log  line  was 
whisked  merrily  over  the  stern  of  the  Will-o'-the-Wisp,  with 
the  satisfactory  result  that  she  logged  17  1-2  knots.  The 
speculators  were  delighted,  so  was  I ;  and  the  bargain  was 
clinched.  I  fear,  however,  that  their  joy  was  short-lived ;  a 
few  weeks  afterwards  when  attempting  to  steam  into  Galves- 
ton she  was  run  ashore  and  destroyed  by  the  Federals.  When 
we  ran  into  that  port  a  few  months  afterwards  in  the  second 
Banshee  we  saw  her  old  bones  on  the  beach. 

"After  this  I  made  a  trip  in  a  new  boat  that  had  just  been 
sent  out  to  me,  the  Wild  Dayrell.  And  a  beauty  she  was, 
very  strong,  a  perfect  sea-boat,  and  remarkably  well  en- 
gined. 

"Our  voyage  in  was  somewhat  exciting,  as  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  while  making  for  the  Fort  Caswell 
entrance  (not  Fort  Fisher),  we  were  sighted  by  a  Federal 
cruiser,  who  immediately  gave  chase.  We  soon  found,  how- 
ever, that  we  had  the  heels  of  our  friend,  but  it  left  us  the 
alternative  of  going  out  to  sea  or  being  chased  straight  into 
the  jaws  of  the  blockaders  off  the  bar  before  darkness  came 
on.  Under  these  circumstances  what  course  to  take  was  a 
delicate  point  to  decide,  but  we  solved  the  problem  by  slowing 
down  just  sufficiently  to  keep  a  few  miles  ahead  of  our 
chaser,  hoping  that  darkness  would  come  on  before  we  made 
the  fleet  or  they  discovered  us.  Just  as  twilight  was  draw- 
ing in  we  made  them  out;  cautiously  we  crept  on,  feeling 
certain  that  our  friend  astern  was  rapidly  closing  up  on  us. 
Every  moment  we  expected  to  hear  shot  whistling  around  us. 
So  plainly  could  we  see  the  sleepy  blockaders  that  it  seemed 
almost  impossible  we  should  escape  their  notice.  Whether 
they  did  not  expect  a  runner  to  make  an  attempt  so  early  in 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  417 

the  evening,  or  whether  it  was  sheer  good  luck  on  our  part, 
I  know  not,  bnt  we  ran  through  the  lot  without  being  seen  or 
without  having  a  shot  fired  at  us. 

''Our  anxieties,  however,  were  not  yet  over,  as  our  pilot, 
(a  new  hand)  lost  his  reckoning  and  put  us  ashore  on  the 
bar.  Fortunately,  the  flood  tide  was  rising  fast,  and  we  re- 
floated, bumping  over  stern  first  in  a  most  inglorious  fashion, 
and  anchored  off  Fort  Caswell  before  7  p.  m. — a  record  per- 
formance. 

"Soon  after  anchoring  and  while  enjoying  the  usual  cock- 
tail, we  saw  a  great  commotion  among  the  blockaders,  who 
were  throwing  up  rockets  and  flashing  lights,  evidently  in 
answer  to  signals  from  the  cruiser  which  had  so  nearly  chased 
us  into  their  midst. 

"When  we  came  out  we  met  with  equally  good  luck,  as 
the  night  was  pitch  dark  and  the  weather  very  squally.  ISTo 
sooner  did  we  clear  the  bar  than  we  put  our  helm  aport,  ran 
down  the  coast,  and  then  stood  boldly  straight  out  to  sea  with- 
out interference;  and  it  was  perhaps  as  well  we  had  such 
good  fortune,  as  before  this  I  had  discovered  that  our  pilot 
was  of  a  very  indifferent  calibre,  and  that  courage  was  not 
our  captain's  most  prominent  characteristic.  The  poor  Wild 
Dayrell  deserved  a  better  commander,  and  consequently  a 
better  fate  than  befell  her.  She  was  lost  on  her  second  trip, 
entirely  through  the  want  of  pluck  on  the  part  of  her  captain, 
who  ran  her  ashore  some  miles  to  the  north  of  Fort  Fisher ; 
he  said  in  order  to  avoid  capture — to  my  mind  a  fatal 
excuse  for  any  blockade  rimning  captain  to  make.  'Twere 
far  better  to  be  sunk  by  shot,  and  escape  in  the  boats  if  possi- 
ble. I  am  quite  certain  that  if  Steele  had  commanded  her  on 
that  trip  she  would  never  have  been  put  ashore,  and  the 
chances  were  that  she  would  have  come  through  all  right. 

"I  never  forgave  myself  for  not  unshipping  the  captain  on 
my  return  to  :N'assau ;  my  only  excuse  was  that  there  was  no 
good  man  available  to  replace  him,  and  he  was  a  particular 
protege  of  my  chief's.  But  such  considerations  should  not 
have  weighed,  and  if  I  had  had  the  courage  of  my  convic- 


418  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

tions  it  is  probable  the  Wild  Dayrell  would  have  proved  as 
successful  as  any  of  our  steamers. 

"About  this  time  I  had  tvs^o  other  new  boats  sent  out,  the 
Stormy  Petrel  and  the  Wild  Rover,  both  good  boats,  very 
fast,  and  distinct  improvements  on  the  Banshee  No.  1  and  the 
Will-o'-the-Wisp.  The  Stormy  Petrel  had,  however,  very  bad 
luck,  as,  after  getting  safely  in  and  anchoring  behind  Fort 
Fisher,  she  settled,  as  the  tide  went  down,  on  a  submerged 
anchor,  the  fluke  of  which  went  through  her  bottom,  and  de- 
spite all  efforts  she  became  a  total  wreck ;  this  was  one  of  the 
most  serious  and  unlucky  losses  I  had.  The  Wild  Rover 
was  more  successful,  as  she  made  five  round  trips,  on  one  of 
which  I  went  in  her.  She  survived  the  war,  and  I  eventually 
sent  her  to  South  America,  where  she  was  sold  for  a  good 
sum. 

"We  had  in  the  early  part  of  the  war  a  depot  at  Bermuda 
as  well  as  at  J^assau,  and  Frank  Hurst  was  at  that  time  my 
brother  agent  there.  I  went  there  twice,  once  in  the  first 
Banshee,  and  once  from  Halifax,  after  a  trip  to  Canada  in 
order  to  recruit  from  a  bad  attack  of  yellow  fever;  but  I 
never  liked  Bermuda,  and  later  on  we  transferred  Hurst  and 
his  agency  to  Nassau,  which  was  more  convenient  in  many 
ways  and  nearer  Wilmington.  Moreover,  I  had  to  face  the 
contingency,  which  afterwards  occurred,  of  the  Atlantic  ports 
being  closed  and  our  being  driven  to  the  Gulf.  The  Bermu- 
dians,  however,  were  a  kind,  hospitable  lot,  and  made  a  gi'eat 
deal  of  us,  and  there  was  a  much  larger  naval  and  military 
society  stationed  there  than  in  Nassau.  They  had  suffered 
from  a  severe  outbreak  of  yellow  fever,  and  the  Third  Buffs, 
who  were  in  garrison  at  the  time,  had  been  almost  decimated 
by  it. 

"It  was  on  my  second  trip  to  the  island  that  one  of  the 
finest  boats  we  ever  possessed,  the  Night  Ro/wh,  came  out, 
and  I  concluded  to  run  in  with  her.  She  was  a  new  side- wheel 
steamer  of  some  600  tons  gross,  rigged  as  a  fore-and-aft 
schooner,  with  two  funnels,  220  feet  long,  21  1-2  feet  beam, 
and  11  feet  in  depth ;  a  capital  boat  for  the  work,  fast,  sti-ong. 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  419 

of  light  draught,  and  a  splendid  sea  boat — a  great  merit  in  a 
blockade  runner  that  sometimes  has  to  be  forced  in  all  weath- 
ers. The  Night  Hawk's  career  was  a  very  eventful  one,  and 
she  passed  an  unusually  lively  night  off  Fort  Fisher  on  her 
first  attempt  at  blockade  running. 

"Soon  after  getting  under  way  our  troubles  began.  We 
ran  ashore  outside  Hamilton,  one  of  the  harbors  of  Bermuda, 
and  hung  on  a  coral  reef  for  a  couple  of  hours.  There  loomed 
before  us  the  dismal  prospect  of  delay  for  repairs,  or,  still 
worse,  the  chance  of  springing  a  leak  and  experiencing  such 
difficulties  and  dangers  as  we  had  undergone  on  the  Will-o'- 
the-Wisp,  but  fortunately  we  came  off  without  damage  and 
were  able  to  proceed  on  our  voyage. 

"Another  anxiety  now  engrossed  my  mind :  the  captain 
was  an  entirely  new  hand,  and  nearly  all  the  crew  were  green 
at  the  work;  moreover,  the  Wilming-ton  pilot  was  quite  un- 
known to  me,  and  I  could  see  from  the  outset  that  he  was 
very  nervous  and  wanting  in  confidence.  What  would  I  not 
have  given  for  our  trusty  pilot,  Tom  Burriss.  However,  we 
had  to  make  the  best  of  it,  as,  owing  to  the  demand,  the  supply 
of  competent  pilots  was  not  nearly  sufficient,  and  towards  the 
close  of  the  blockade  the  so-called  pilots  were  no  more  than 
boatmen  or  men  who  had  been  trading  in  and  out  of  Wilming- 
ton or  Charleston  in  coasters.  Notwithstanding  my  fears, 
all  went  well  on  the  way  across,  and  the  Night  HawJc  proved 
to  be  everything  that  could  be  desired  in  speed  and  seaworthi- 
ness. 

''We  had  sighted  unusually  few  craft,  and  nothing  event- 
ful occurred  until  the  third  night.  Soon  after  midnight  we 
found  ourselves  uncomfortably  near  a  large  vessel.  It  was 
evident  that  we  had  been  seen,  as  we  heard  them  beating  to 
quarters,  and  we  were  hailed.  We  promptly  sheered  off  and 
went  full  speed  ahead,  greeted  by  a  broadside  which  went 
across  our  stern. 

"When  we  arrived  within  striking  distance  of  Wilmington 
bar  the  pilot  was  anxious  to  go  in  by  Smith's  Inlet,  but  as  he 

28 


420  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

acknowledged  that  lie  knew  very  little  about  it,  I  concluded 
it  was  better  to  keep  to  the  New  Inlet  passage,  where,  at 
all  events,  we  should  have  the  advantage  of  our  good  friend 
Lamb  to  protect  us;  and  I  felt  that  as  I  myself  knew  the 
place  so  well,  this  was  the  safest  course  to  pursue.  We  were 
comparatively  well  through  the  fleet,  although  heavily  fired 
at,  and  arrived  near  to  the  bar,  passing  close  by  two  Northern 
launches  which  were  lying  almost  uj^on  it  Unfortunately  it 
was  dead  low  water,  and  although  I  pressed  our  pilot  to  give 
our  boat  a  turn  around,  keeping  under  way,  and  to  wait 
awhile  until  the  tide  made,  he  was  so  demoralized  by  the 
firing  we  had  gone  through  and  the  nearness  of  the  launches, 
which  were  constantly  throwing  up  rockets,  that  he  insisted 
upon  putting  her  at  the  bar,  and,  as  I  feared,  we  grounded 
on  it  forward,  and  with  the  strong  floodtide,  quickly  broached- 
to,  broadside  on  to  the  northern  breakers.  We  kept  our  en- 
gines going  for  some  time,  but  to  no  purpose,  as  we  found  we 
were  only  being  forced  by  the  tide  more  on  to  the  breakers. 
Therefore,  we  stopped,  and  all  at  once  found  our  friends,  the 
two  launches,  close  aboard ;  they  had  discovered  we  were 
ashore,  and  had  made  up  their  minds  to  attack  us. 

"At  once  all  was  in  confusion;  the  pilot  and  signalman 
rushed  to  the  dinghy,  lowered  it,  and  made  good  their  es- 
cape; the  captain  lost  his  head  and  disappeared;  and  the 
crews  of  the  launches,  after  firing  several  volleys,  one  of  which 
slightly  wounded  me,  rowed  in  to  board  us  on  each  sponson. 
Just  at  this  moment,  I  suddenly  recollected  that  our  private 
dispatches,  which  ought  to  have  been  thrown  overboard,  were 
still  in  the  starboard  lifeboat.  I  rushed  to  it,  but  found  the 
lanyard  to  which  the  sinking  weight  was  attached  was  foul  of 
one  of  the  thwarts ;  I  tugged  and  tugged,  but  to  no  purpose,  so 
I  sung  out  for  a  knife,  which  was  handed  to  me  by  a  fireman, 
and  I  cut  the  line  and  pitched  the  line  overboard  as  the 
Northerners  jumped  on  board.  Eighteen  months  after- 
wards that  fireman  accosted  me  in  the  Liverpool  streets,  say- 
ing, 'Mr.  Taylor,  do  you  remember  my  lending  you  a  knife  V 
'Of  course  I  do,'  I  replied,  giving  him  a  tip,  at  which  he  was 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  421 

mightily  pleased.  Poor  fellow !  he  had  been  thirteen  months 
in  a  JSTorthern  prison. 

"When  the  ISTortheruers  jumped  on  board  they  were  ter- 
ribly excited.  I  don't  know  whether  they  expected  resistance 
or  not,  but  they  acted  more  like  maniacs  than  sane  men,  firing 
their  revolvers  and  cutting  right  and  left  with  their  cutlasses. 
I  stood  in  front  of  the  men  on  the  poop  and  said  that  we  sur- 
rendered, but  all  the  reply  I  received  from  the  lieutenant 
commanding  was,  'Oh,  you  surrender,  do  you?'  *  *  * 
accompanied  by  a  string  of  the  choicest  Yankee  oaths  and 
sundry  reflections  upon  my  parentage;  whereupon  he  fired 
his  revolver  twice  point-blank  at  me  not  two  yards  distant. 
It  was  a  miracle  he  did  not  kill  me,  as  I  heard  the  bullets 
whiz  past  my  head.  This  roused  my  wrath,  and  I  exjDostu- 
lated  in  the  strongest  terms  upon  his  firing  upon  unarmed 
men ;  he  then  cooled  down,  giving  me  into  the  charge  of  two 
of  his  men,  one  of  whom  speedily  possessed  himself  of  my 
binoculars.  Fortunately,  as  I  had  no  guard  to  my  watch, 
they  didn't  discover  it,  and  I  have  it  still. 

"Finding  they  could  not  get  the  ship  oif,  and  afraid,  I  pre- 
sume, of  Lamb  and  his  men  coming  to  our  rescue,  the  Fed- 
erals commenced  putting  the  captain  (who  had  been  discov- 
ered behind  a  boat!)  and  the  crew  into  the  boats;  they  then 
set  the  ship  on  fire  fore  and  aft,  and  she  soon  began  to  blaze 
merrily.  At  this  moment  one  of  our  firemen,  an  Irishman, 
sang  out,  'Begorra,  we  shall  all  be  in  the  air  in  a  minute,  the 
ship  is  full  of  gunpowder!'  ISTo  sooner  did  the  ISTorthern 
sailors  hear  this  than  a  panic  seized  them,  and  they  rushed 
to  their  boats,  threatening  to  leave  their  officers  behind  if 
they  did  not  come  along.  The  men  who  were  holding  me 
dropped  me  like  a  hot  potato,  and  to  my  great  delight  jumped 
into  their  boat,  and  away  they  rowed  as  fast  as  they  could, 
taking  all  our  crew,  with  the  exception  of  the  second  officer, 
one  of  the  engineers,  four  seamen,  and  myself,  as  prisoners. 

"We  chuckled  at  our  lucky  escape,  but  we  were  not  out  of 
the  woods,  yet,  as  we  had  only  a  boat  half  stove  in  in  which  to 
reach  the  shore  through  some  300  yards  of  surf,  and  we  were 


422  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

afraid  at  any  moment  that  our  enemies,  finding  there  was  no 
gunpowder  on  board,  might  return.  We  made  a  feeble  effort 
to  put  the  fire  out,  but  it  had  gained  too  much  headway,  and 
although  I  offered  the  men  with  me  £50  apiece  to  staud  by 
me  and  persevere,  they  were  too  demoralized  and  began 
to  lower  the  shattered  boat,  swearing  that  they  would  leave 
me  behind  if  I  didn't  come  with  them.  There  was  nothing 
for  it  but  to  go,  yet  the  passage  through  the  boiling  surf 
seemed  more  dangerous  to  my  mind  than  remaining  on  the 
burning  ship.  The  blockaders  immediately  opened  fire  when 
they  knew  their  own  men  had  left  the  Night  Hawh,  and  that 
she  was  burning;  and  Lamb's  great  shells  hurtling  over  our 
heads  and  those  from  the  blockading  fleet  bursting  all  around 
us  formed  a  weird  picture.  In  spite  of  the  hail  of  shot  and 
shell  and  the  dangers  of  the  boiling  surf,  we  reached  the 
shore  in  safety,  wet  through,  and  glad  I  was  in  my  state  of 
exhaustion  from  loss  of  blood  and  fatigue  to  be  welcomed 
by  Lamb's  orderly  officer. 

"The  poor  Night  Hawh  was  now  a  sheet  of  flame,  and  I 
thought  it  was  all  up  with  her;  and  indeed  it  would  have 
been  had  it  not  been  for  Lamb,  who,  calling  for  volunteers 
from  his  garrison,  sent  out  two  or  three  boatloads  of  men  to 
her,  and  when  I  came  down  to  the  beach,  after  having  my 
wound  dressed  and  after  a  short  rest,  I  was  delighted  to  find 
the  fire  had  sensibly  decreased.  I  went  on  board,  and  after 
some  hours  of  hard  work  the  fire  was  extinguished.  But  what 
a  wreck  she  was  ! 

"Luckily,  with  the  rising  tide  she  had  bumped  over  the 
bank,  and  was  now  lying  on  the  main  beach  much  more  ac- 
cessible and  sheltered.  Still,  it  seemed  an  almost  hopeless 
task  to  save  her ;  but  we  were  not  going  to  be  beaten  without 
a  try,  so,  after  having  ascertained  how  she  lay  and  the  condi- 
tion she  was  in,  I  resolved  to  make  an  attempt  to  get  her  dry, 
and  telegraphed  to  Wilmington  for  assistance. 

"Our  agent  sent  me  down  about  300  negroes  to  assist  in 
bailing  and  pumping,  and  I  set  them  to  work  at  once.  As 
good  luck  would  have  it,  my  finest  steamer,  Banshee  No.  2, 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  423 

wHch  had  just  been  sent  out,  ran  in  the  next  night.  She 
was  a  great  improvement  on  the  first  Banshee,  having  a  sea 
speed  of  15  1-2  knots,  which  was  considered  very  fast  in 
those  days;  her  length  was  252  feet,  beam  31  feet,  depth  11 
feet,  her  registered  tonnage  439  tons,  and  her  crew  consisted 
of  fifty-three  men  in  all.  I  at  once  requisitioned  her  for  aid 
in  the  shape  of  engineers  and  men,  so  that  now  I  had  every- 
thing I  could  want  in  the  way  of  hands.  Our  great  difiiculty 
was  that  the  Night  Haw¥s  anchors  would  not  hold  for  us  to 
get  a  fair  haul  at  her. 

"But  here  again  I  was  to  be  in  luck.  For  the  very  next 
night  the  Condor,  commanded  by  poor  Hewitt,  in  attempting 
to  run  in  stuck  fast  upon  the  bank  over  which  we  had  bumped, 
not  one  hundred  yards  to  windward  of  us,  and  broke  in  two. 
It  is  an  ill  wind  that  blows  nobody  good,  and  Hewitt's  mis- 
chance proved  the  saving  of  our  ship.  Now  we  had  a  hold 
for  our  chain  cables  by  making  them  fast  to  the  wreck,  and 
were  able  gradually  to  haul  her  off  by  them  a  little  during 
each  tide,  until  on  the  seventh  day  we  had  her  afloat  in  a  gut 
between  the  bank  and  the  shore,  and  at  high  water  we  steamed 
under  our  own  steam  gaily  up  the  river  to  Wilmington. 

"Considering  the  appliances  we  had  and  the  circumstances 
under  which  we  were  working,  the  saving  of  that  steamer 
was  certainly  a  wonderful  performance,  as  we  were  under  fire 
almost  the  whole  time.  The  ll^J^ortherners,  irritated,  no  doubt, 
by  their  failure  to  destroy  the  ship,  used  to  shell  us  by  day 
and  send  in  boats  by  night ;  Lamb,  however,  put  a  stop  to  the 
latter  annoyance  by  lending  us  a  couple  of  companies  to  de- 
fend us,  and  one  night  when  our  enemies  rowed  close  up  with 
the  intention  of  boarding  us,  they  were  glad  to  sheer  off  with 
the  loss  of  a  lieutenant  and  several  men.  In  spite  of  all  the 
shot  and  shell  by  day  and  the  repeated  attacks  at  night,  we 
triumphed  in  the  end,  and,  after  having  the  Night  Hawh 
repaired  at  heavy  cost  and  getting  together  a  crew,  I  gave 
May,  a  friend  of  mine,  command  of  her,  and  he  ran  out  suc- 
cessfully with  a  valuable  cargo  which  made  her  pay,  notwith- 
standing all  her  bad  luck  and  the  amount  spent  upon  her. 


424  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Poor  Maj,  he  was  afterwards  Governor  of  Perth  gaol,  and  is 
dead  now — a  high-toned,  sensitive  gentleman,  mighty  proud 
of  his  ship,  lame  duck  as  she  was. 

"When  she  was  burning,  our  utmost  efforts  were  of  course 
directed  towards  keeping  her  engine-room  and  boilers  amid- 
ships intact,  and  confining  the  flames  to  both  ends ;  in  this  we 
were  successful,  mainly  owing  to  the  fact  of  her  having  bunk- 
ers athwart-ship ;  but  as  regards  the  rest  of  the  steamer  she 
was  a  complete  wreck ;  her  sides  were  all  corrugated  with  the 
heat,  and  her  stern  so  twisted  that  her  starboard  quarter  was 
some  two  feet  higher  than  her  port  quarter,  and  not  a  particle 
of  woodwork  was  left  unconsumed.  Owing  to  the  limited 
resources  of  Wilmington  as  regards  repairs,  I  found  it  im- 
possible to  have  all  of  this  put  right,  so  her  sides  were  left  as 
they  were,  and  the  new  deck  put  on  with  the  slope  I  have 
described,  and  caulked  with  cotton,  as  no  oakum  was  procura- 
ble. When  completed  she  certainly  was  a  queer-looking  craft, 
but  as  tight  as  a  bottle,  and  as  seaworthy  as  ever,  although 
I  doubt  if  any  Lloyd's  surveyor  would  have  passed  her.  But 
as  a  matter  of  fact  she  came  across  the  Atlantic,  deeply  im- 
mersed with  her  coal  supply,  through  some  very  bad  weather, 
without  damage,  and  was  sold  for  a  mere  song,  to  be  repaired 
and  made  into  a  passenger  boat  for  service  on  the  East  Coast, 
where  she  ran  for  many  years  with  success. 

"It  had  been  a  hard  week  for  me,  as  I  had  no  clothes  ex- 
cept what  I  had  on  when  we  were  boarded — my  servant  very 
cleverly,  as  he  imagined,  having  thrown  my  portmanteau  into 
the  man-of-war's  boat  when  he  thought  I  was  going  to  be  cap- 
tured— and  all  I  had  in  the  world  was  the  old  serge  suit  in 
which  I  stood.  Being  without  a  change  and  wet  through 
every  day  and  night  for  six  days  consecutively,  it  is  little 
wonder  that  I  caught  fever  and  ague,  of  which  I  nearly  died 
in  Eichmond,  and  which  distressing  complaint  stuck  to  me 
for  more  than  eighteen  months.  I  shall  never  forget,  on  going 
to  a  store  in  Wilmington  for  a  new  rig-out  (which  by  the  way 
cost  $1,200),  the  look  of  horror  on  the  storekeeper's  face 
when  I  told  him  the  coat  I  had  purchased  would  do  if  he  cut  a 
foot  off  it ;  he  thought  it  such  a  waste  of  expensive  material." 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  425 

RESCUE  OF  MADAME  DeEOSSET. 

We  found  at  the  shipyard  in  Wilmington,  while  the  Lilian 
was  undergoing  repairs,  the  noted  blockade  runner  Lynx, 
commanded  by  one  of  the  most  daring  spirits  in  the  service, 
Captain  Reed.  This  officer  has  been  described  in  a  IN'orthern 
magazine  as  a  priate,  but  he  was  one  of  the  mildest  mannered 
of  gentlemen,  a  capital  seaman,  and  apparently  entirely  de- 
void of  fear.  He  had  previously  commanded  the  Gibraltar, 
formerly  the  first  Confederate  cruiser  Sumter;  and  he 
brought  through  the  blockade  in  this  ship  to  Wilmington  the 
two  enormous  g-uns  which  attracted  so  much  attention  at  that 
time.  One  of  them  exploded,  through  a  fault  in  loading ;  the 
other  was  used  for  the  defense  of  Charleston,  and  rendered 
effective  service. 

A  thrilling  incident  occurred  in  the  destruction  of  the 
Lynx,  a  few  weeks  after  we  left  her  at  Wilmington,  which 
nearly  terminated  the  life  of  a  brave  and  charming  lady,  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Louis  H.  DeRosset,  and  of  her  infant  child,  who 
were  passengers  for  Nassau.  At  half  past  seven  o'clock  on 
the  evening  of  September  26,  1864,  the  Lynx  attempted  to 
run  the  blockade  at  'New  Inlet,  but  was  immediately  discov- 
ered in  the  Swash  Channel  by  the  Federal  cruiser  Niphon, 
which  fired  several  broadsides  into  her  at  short  range,  nearly 
every  shot  striking  her  hull  and  seriously  disabling  her.  K'ot- 
withstanding  this,  Captain  Reed  continued  his  efforts  to  es- 
cape, and  for  a  short  time  was  slipping  away  from  his  pur- 
suers ;  but  he  was  again  intercepted  by  two  Federal  men-of- 
war,  the  Howquah  and  the  Governor  Buckingham. 

Mrs.  DeRosset,  describing  the  scene  a  few  days  afterwards, 
said:  "Immediately  the  sky  was  illuminated  with  rockets 
and  broadside  upon  broadside,  volley  upon  volley,  was  poured 
upon  us.  The  Captain  put  me  in  the  wheelhouse  for  safety. 
I  had  scarcely  taken  my  seat  when  a  ball  passed  three  inches 
above  my  head,  wounding  the  man  at  the  wheel  next  to  me; 
a  large  piece  of  the  wheelhouse  knocked  me  violently  on  the 
head.    I  flew  to  the  cabin  and  took  my  baby  in  my  arms,  and 


426  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

immediately  anotlier  ball  passed  through  the  cabin.  We  came 
so  near  one  of  the  enemy's  boats  that  they  fired  a  round  of 
musketry,  and  demanded  surrender.  We  passed  them  like 
lightning;  then  our  vessel  commenced  sinking!  Eight  shots 
went  through  and  through  below  the  water  line.  I  stayed  in 
the  cabin  until  I  could  no  longer  keep  the  baby  out  of  the 
water." 

The  Howquah  then  engaged  the  Lynx  at  close  quarters,  and 
her  batteries  tore  away  a  large  part  of  the  paddle  boxes  and 
bridge  deck.  The  Buckingham  also  attacked  the  plucky  block- 
ade runner  at  so  short  range  that  her  commander  fired  all 
the  charges  from  his  revolver  at  Captain  Reed  and  his  pilot 
on  the  bridge.  The  continual  flashing  of  the  guns  brightly 
illuminated  the  chase,  and,  escape  being  impossible.  Captain 
Reed,  much  concerned  for  the  safety  of  his  passengers,  headed 
his  sinking  ship  for  the  beach.  In  the  meantime  Fort  Fisher 
was  firing  upon  his  pursuers  with  deadly  effect,  killing  and 
wounding  five  men  on  the  Howquah  and  disabling  one  of  the 
guns.  The  sea  was  very  rough  that  night,  and  the  treacherous 
breakers  with  their  deafening  roar  afforded  little  hope  of 
landing  a  woman  and  a  baby  through  the  surf ;  nevertheless, 
it  was  the  onty  alternative,  and  right  bravely  did  the  heroine 
meet  it.  Through  the  breakers  the  Lynx  was  driven  to  her 
destruction,  the  shock,  as  her  keel  struck  the  bottom,  sending 
her  crew  headlong  on  the  deck.  Boats  were  lowered  with  great 
difficulty,  the  sea  dashing  over  the  bulwarks  and  drenching 
the  sailors  to  the  point  of  strangulation.  Madame  DeRosset, 
with  the  utmost  coolness,  watched  her  chance,  while  the  boat 
lurched  and  pounded  against  the  stranded  ship,  and  jumped 
to  her  place ;  the  baby,  wrapped  in  a  blanket,  was  tossed  from 
the  deck  to  her  mother  ten  feet  below,  and  then  the  fight  for 
a  landing  began ;  while  the  whole  crew,  forgetful  of  their  ovm 
danger,  and  inspired  with  courage  by  the  brave  lady's  exam- 
ple, joined  in  three  hearty  cheers  as  she  disappeared  in  the 
darkness  towards  the  shore.  Under  the  later  glare  of  the 
burning  ship,  which  was  set  on  fire  when  abandoned,  a  safe 
landing  was  effected,  but  with  great  suffering.    Soaking  wet. 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  427 

without  food  or  drink,  tliej  remained  on  the  beach  until  a 
message  could  reach  Colonel  Lamb  at  Fort  Fisher,  five  miles 
distant,  whence  an  ambulance  was  sent  to  carry  the  passen- 
gers twenty  miles  up  to  Wilmington.  The  baby  blockade 
runner,  Gabrielle,  survived  this  perilous  adventure,  and  also 
an  exciting  run  through  the  fleet  in  the  Confederate  steamer 
Owl.  She  is  now  the  widow  of  the  late  Col.  Alfred  Moore 
Waddell,  formerly  mayor  of  Wilmington. 


IMPROVED  SHIPS  A^D  NOTABLE  COMMAII^DERS. 

The  last  year  of  the  war  evolved  a  superior  type  of  blockade 
runners  of  great  speed,  many  of  which  were  commanded  by 
celebrated  men  of  nerve  and  experience.  Of  these  may  be 
mentioned  at  random  and  from  memory :  the  Lilian,  Captain 
Maffitt ;  the  Little  Hattie,  Captain  Lebby ;  the  Florie,  named 
for  Captain  Maffitt's  daughter;  the  Agnes  E.  Fry,  com- 
manded by  that  noble  but  unfortunate  naval  officer.  Captain 
Joseph  Fry ;  the  Chicora,  still  running  in  Canadian  waters ; 
the  Let  Her  Rip,  the  Let  Her  Be;  also  the  fleet  of  three-funnel 
boats,  one  of  which,  the  Condor,  was  commanded  by  the  fa- 
mous Admiral  Hewitt,  of  the  British  l^avy,  who  won  the 
Victoria  Cross  in  the  Crimea,  and  who  was  knighted  by  Queen 
Victoria  for  his  distinguished  services  as  Ambassador  to 
King  John  of  Abyssinia.  The  Falcon,  another,  was  com- 
manded for  one  voyage  by  Hobart  Pasha ;  the  Flamingo,  the 
Ptarmigan,  and  the  Vulture  were  also  of  the  three-funnel 
type. 

Another  notable  British  officer  who  ran  the  blockade  was 
the  gallant  Burgoyne,  who  was  lost  in  the  iron-clad  Captain 
in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  which  vessel  he  commanded  on  that  un- 
fortunate voyage. 

Captain  Carter  was  a  notable  naval  officer  of  the  Confed- 
eracy ;  he  commanded  the  blockade  runner  Coquette. 

Captain  Thomas  Lockwood,  a  JSTorth  Carolinian,  was,  per- 
haps, the  most  noted  of  the  commercial  class.    His  last  com- 


428  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

mand  was  the  celebrated  steamer  Colonel  Lamb,  named  for 
the  defender  of  Fort  Fisher.  This  was  the  largest,  the  finest, 
and  the  fastest  of  all  the  ships  on  either  side  during  the  war. 
She  was  a  paddle  steamer  built  of  steel,  281  feet  long,  36 
feet  beam,  and  15  feet  depth  of  hold.  Her  tonage  was  1,788 
tons.  At  the  time  she  was  built,  1864,  she  was  the  fastest 
vessel  afloat,  having  attained  on  her  trial  a  speed  of  16f  knots, 
or  about  nineteen  miles  an  hour.  Captain  Lockwood  made 
several  successful  runs  in  this  fine  ship,  and  escaped  to  Eng- 
land at  the  close  of  the  war.  The  Colonel  Lamb  was  sold  to 
the  Greek  Government,  and  subsequently,  under  another 
name,  was  blown  up  while  in  the  Mersey  loaded  with  war 
supplies.  Other  fast  boats  were  the  Owl,  Bat,  Fox,  Dream, 
Stag,  Edith,  Atalanta,  Virginia,  Charlotte,  Banshee  and 
Night  Hawh. 

Another  merchant  commander  of  distinction  was  Captain 
Halpin,  who  was  very  skillful  and  successful.  He  after- 
wards commanded  the  famous  leviathan,  Great  Eastern, 
while  she  was  engaged  in  laying  the  Atlantic  cable. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  although  speed  was  regarded 
the  first  essential  to  success,  some  of  the  slowest  vessels  en- 
gaged in  the  traflic  were  the  most  fortunate.  The  Pet,  for 
example,  was  a  very  slow  steamer,  yet  she  made  the  runs, 
over  forty  of  them,  through  the  blockade  with  the  regularity 
of  a  mail  boat.  I  think  this  was  due  to  the  superior  skill  of 
her  commander  who  exercised  great  caution  and  never  be- 
came excited  in  a  tight  place.  The  Antonica  was  another 
slow,  lumbering  boat,  but  it  was  said  of  her  that  when  she 
was  fairly  set  on  her  course  between  Nassau  and  Wilmington 
they  could  simply  lash  her  wheel  and  she  would  go  in  or  out 
"by  herself."  The  Scotia,  the  Greyhound,  and  others  were 
equally  slow  coaches,  but  had  for  a  time,  it  seemed,  a  charmed 
life. 

The  loss  of  the  Merrimac  was,  like  that  of  the  Bat,  as  re- 
lated by  Pilot  Craig,  a  notable  example  of  cowardice  on  the 
part  of  the  captain.  This  fine,  large  steamer,  which  had 
successfully  run  into  Wilmington,  was  ordered  to  be  sold  in 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  429 

this  port,  and  she  was  bought  hj  a  number  of  prominent  citi- 
zens and  merchants,  one  of  whom  was  Mr.  Edward  Kidder. 
She  was  laden  with  a  very  valuable  cargo  of  cotton  and  to- 
bacco and  put  to  sea  for  Nassau.  On  the  second  day  out  she 
was  chased,  as  they  thought,  by  a  cruiser  which  steadily 
gained  on  her,  and  when  the  stranger  fired  a  small  gun,  the 
captain  of  the  Merrimac  ignomiuiously  surrendered  to  an 
unarmed  passenger  steamer,  whose  little  popgun,  containing 
a  blank  cartridge  used  for  signals  in  those  days,  would  not 
have  harmed  a  fly.  This  incident  caused  much  merriment 
on  board  the  passenger  steamer,  which  profited  largely  in  the 
prize  money. 


FAMOUS  BLOCKADE  RUNITEES. 

In  the  second  stage  of  blockade  running,  when  steam  was 
at  a  premium,  a  number  of  walking-beam  boats  of  excellent 
speed,  which  had  plied  regailarly  between  Southern  ports  and 
which  had  been  laid  up  since  the  proclamation,  were  bought 
by  Southern  business  men,  who  became  prominent  in  blockade 
running ;  and,  after  the  removal  of  passenger  cabins  and  con- 
spicuous top  hamper,  they  were  placed  in  this  dangerous 
traffic.  Of  these  may  be  mentioned  the  steamer  Kate,  pre- 
viously known  as  the  Carolina,  upon  the  line  between  Charles- 
ton and  Palatka ;  the  Gordon,  which  was  built  to  run  between 
Charleston  and  Savannah;  also  the  Nina,  Seahrooh,  Clinch, 
and  Cecile,  which  had  plied  on  the  same  line.  The  Cecile, 
loaded  at  ISTassau  with  a  cargo  of  powder,  rifles,  and 
stores  for  Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston's  army  at  Shiloh, 
struck  a  sunken  rock  off  the  Florida  coast,  and  went  to  the 
bottom  in  ten  minutes.    The  officers  and  crew  escaped. 

Two  steamers  which  formerly  ran  between  'New  Orleans 
and  Galveston  became  prominent  as  Cape  Fear  blockade  run- 
ners; the  Atlantic,  re-named  the  JElizaheth,  and  the  Austin^ 
which  became  the  famous  Confederate  steamer  Ella  and 
Annie.  In  the  early  morning  of  November  9,  1863,  the  Ella 
and  Annie,  under  command  of  Capt   F.   IST.   Bonneau  of 


430  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Charleston,  was  intercepted  off  Xew  Inlet,  near  Masonboro, 
bj  the  United  States  steamer  Niplion,  which  attempted  to 
press  her  ashore.  Several  other  cruisers  preventing  the  es- 
cape of  the  Ella  and  Annie,  Captain  Bonneau  at  once  re- 
solved upon  the  desperate  expedient  of  running  the  Niphon 
down.  He  accordingly  ran  his  ship  at  reckless  speed  straight 
at  the  war  vessel,  and  struck  it  with  great  force,  carrying 
away  the  bowsprit  and  stem  and  wounding  three  of  the  men. 
The  Niphon,  by  quick  movement,  avoided  the  full  effect  of 
the  blow,  and  fired  all  her  starboard  guns  into  the  Ella  and 
Annie,  wounding  four  of  her  men.  As  soon  as  the  vessels 
came  together  the  Niphon  carried  the  Ella  and  Annie,  by 
boarding,  and  made  her  a  prize.  She  afterwards  became  the 
United  States  flag  ship  Malvern. 

The  Govermor  Dudley,  of  the  Wilmington  and  Charleston 
route  before  the  completion  of  the  Wilmnigton  and  Man- 
chester Railroad,  which  had  been  put  on  the  summer  run 
between  Charleston  and  Havana  prior  to  the  war,  made  one  or 
two  successful  voyages  through  the  blockade  to  [N'assau. 

A  Nassau  correspondent  to  the  New  York  Times  on  Febru- 
ary 15,  1862,  wrote:  '-Qn  Tuesday  last,  the  11th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1862,  the  old  steamer  Governor  Dudley  arrived  from 
Charleston  with  400  bales  of  cotton.  The  Captain,  fearing 
the  cotton  would  go  ISTorth  if  sold  here,  refused  to  take  any 
price  for  it.  After  taking  out  a  British  register  and  changing 
her  name  to  the  Nellie,  he  left  for  Havana  with  a  l^assau 
pilot  on  board  to  carry  him  across  the  (Bahama)  Banks.  He 
intends  taking  a  return  cargo  to  Charleston,  and  expects  to 
be  back  here  in  about  a  month  with  more  cotton.  The  Nellie 
is  an  old  boat,  nearly  used  up  both  in  hull  and  machinery. 
Her  speed  is  not  over  8  or  10  knots,  with  a  full  head  of 
steam."  The  other  boats  formerly  comprising  the  Wilming- 
ton and  Charleston  line  were  probably  too  old  for  blockade- 
running  service.  The  Wilmington  was  sold  to  run  on  the 
Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  The  Gladiator  went  to  Philadelphia, 
and  the  Vanderhilt,  having  been  sold  to  New  Orleans,  found- 
ered in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  while  runnino;  the  blockade. 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  431 

Another  old  friend  of  the  ISTew  York  and  Wilmington  line, 
which  was  managed  here  bj  the  late  Edwin  A.  Keith,  the 
North  Carolina,  rendered  an  important  service  to  the  Con- 
federate Government  by  carrying  through  the  blockade,  as  a 
passenger,  the  distinguished  Capt.  James  D.  Bulloch,  naval 
representative  of  the  Confederacy  in  Europe  during  the  War 
between  the  States.  On  February  5,  1862,  she  completed  the 
loading  of  a  cargo  of  cotton,  rosin,  and  tobacco  at  Wilmington, 
under  her  new  name,  Annie  Childs,  named  for  the  wife  of 
Col.  F.  L.  Childs,  and  proceeded  through  the  blockade  by  the 
main  bar,  arriving  at  Liverpool,  via  Fayal,  Madeira,  and 
Queenstown,  Ireland,  early  in  March.  Her  supply  of  coal 
was  quite  exhausted  when  she  sighted  Queenstown  and  she 
barely  reached  that  port  of  call  by  burning  part  of  her  rosin 
cargo  with  spare  spars  cut  in  short  lengths.  Captain  Bulloch 
said  that  she  was  badly  found  for  so  long  a  voyage,  but  she 
weathered  a  heavy  northwest  gale,  and  proved  herself  to  be  a 
fine  sea  boat.  I  am  informed  that  she  returned  to  other  suc- 
cessful ventures  in  blockade  running  under  the  name  of  the 
Victory. 

The  fleet  of  runners  was  augmented  by  old-fashioned 
steamers,  partly  from  the  IvTorthern  ports,  bought  by  foreign- 
ers and  sent  via  neutral  ports,  where  they  went  through  the 
process  of  "white-washing,"  a  change  of  name,  ownership, 
registry,  and  flag.  A  much  greater  number,  however,  came 
from  abroad ;  a  few  of  these  formerly  having  been  fast  mail 
boats,  but  the  majority  freighters  on  short  routes  in  Europe, 
bought  at  big  prices  for  eager  speculators,  who  were  tempted 
by  the  enormous  profits  of  blockade  running. 

A  few  of  those  of  the  better  class  became  famous,  as  the 
ISTorth  Carolina  steamer  Advance,  before  known  as  the  Lord 
Clyde;  the  Confederate  steamer  B.  E.  Lee,  formerly  the 
Giraffe;  and  the  Lady  Davis,  previously  the  Comubia. 
Some  of  the  others  were  the  A  lice,  Fannie,  Britannia,  Emma, 
Pet,  Sirius,  Orion,  Antonica,  Hansa,  Calypso,  Duoro,  This- 
tle, Scotia,  City  of  Petersburg,  Old  Dominion,  Index,  Cale- 
donia, Dolphin,  Georgiana  McCall,  Modern  Greece,  Hebe, 


432  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Dee,  Wave  Queen,  Granite  City,  Stonewall  Jackson,  Victory, 
Flora,  Beauregard,  Ruhy,  Margaret  and  Jessie,  Eagle,  Ger- 
ti-ude,  Charleston,  Banshee,  Minna,  and  Eugenie,  which  were 
more  or  less  successful. 

The  beach  for  miles  north  and  south  of  Bald  Head  is 
marked  still  by  the  melancholy  wrecks  of  swift  and  graceful 
steamers  which  had  been  employed  in  this  perilous  enter- 
prise. Some  of  the  hundred  vessels  engaged  in  this  traffic 
ran  between  Wilmington  and  the  West  Indies  with  the  regu- 
larity of  mail  boats,  and  some,  even  of  the  slowest  speed — 
the  Pet,  for  instance — eluding  the  vigilance  of  the  Federal 
fleet,  passed  unscathed  twenty,  thirty,  and  forty  times,  mak- 
ing millions  for  the  fortunate  owners.  One  little  beauty,  the 
Siren,  a  fast  boat,  numbered  nearly  fifty  voyages.  The  suc- 
cess of  these  ships  depended,  of  course,  in  gTeat  measure  upon 
the  skill  and  coolness  of  their  commanders  and  pilots.  It  is 
noteworthy  that  those  in  charge  of  Confederate  naval  officers 
were,  with  one  exception,  never  taken;  but  many  were  cap- 
tured, sunk,  and  otherwise  lost,  through  no  fault  of  the  brave 
fellows  who  commanded  them.  The  Beauregard  and  the 
Yenus  lie  stranded  on  Carolina  Beach;  the  Modern  Greece, 
near  ISTew  Inlet;  the  Antonica,  on  Frying  Pan  Shoals;  the 
Ella,  on  Bald  Head ;  the  Spunky  and  the  Georgiana  McCall, 
on  Caswell  Beach ;  the  Hehe  and  the  Dee,  between  Wrights- 
ville  and  Masonboro.  Two  others  lie  near  Lockwood's  FoUy 
bar;  and  others,  whose  names  are  forgotten,  are  half  buried 
in  the  sands,  where  they  may  remain  for  centuries  to  come. 
After  a  heavy  storm  on  the  coast,  the  summer  residents  at 
Carolina  Beach  and  Masonboro  Sound  have  occasionally 
picked  up  along  the  shore  some  interesting  relics  of  blockade 
times,  which  the  heaving  ocean  has  broken  from  the  buried 
cargoes  of  the  Beauregard,  Venus,  Hehe,  and  Dee.  Tallow 
candles,  l^assau  bacon,  soldiers'  shoes,  and  other  wreckage, 
comprise  in  part  this  flotsam  yielded  up  by  Neptune  after 
nearly  fifty  years'  soaking  in  the  sea. 

The  Venus  was  commanded  by  a  prominent  officer  of  the 
Royal  Navy  on  leave  of  absence.  Captain  Murray-Aynsley, 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  433 

known  by  blockade  runners  as  Captain  Murray.  He  is  now 
an  Admiral  in  tbe  British  N"avj  on  the  retired  list.  He  was  a 
great  favorite  with  the  prominent  people,  and  especially  with 
Colonel  Lamb,  of  Fort  Fisher,  whose  description  of  the  vet- 
eran naval  officer  on  the  bridge  of  the  Venus,  running  through 
the  Federal  fleet  in  broad  daylight,  hotly  pursued  by  the 
enemy,  with  coat  sleeves  rolled  up  to  his  arm  pits,  but  cool 
and  defiant,  is  well  worth  recording. 

The  loss  of  the  Oeorgiana  McCall  is  associated  with  a  hor- 
rible crime — the  murder  of  her  pilot.  When  the  ship  was 
beached  under  the  fire  of  the  blockaders,  Mr.  Thomas  Dyer 
did  not  go  with  the  retreating  crew  who  sought  safety  ashore ; 
he  seems  to  have  been  left  behind  in  the  rush.  It  was  known 
that  he  had  a  large  amount  of  money  in  gold  on  board,  and  it 
was  thought  that  he  remained  to  secure  it.  A  boat  returned 
for  him,  but  found  his  bloody  corpse,  instead.  His  skull  was 
crushed  as  by  a  blow  from  behind ;  there  was  no  money  on  his 
person.  Another  man  was  found  on  board,  but  unhurt,  who 
professed  ignorance  of  his  fellow.  This  person  was  the  watch- 
man, and  it  is  said  he  carried  ashore  a  large  amount  of  money. 
He  was  arrested  on  suspicion,  but  there  was  no  proof.  He 
still  lives  on  the  river,  but  the  cause  of  poor  Dyer's  death  will 
probably  never  be  known  until  the  Great  Assize. 

Examples  of  dash  and  daring  on  the  part  of  noted  Cape 
Fear  blockade  runners  in  this  phase  of  their  history  could  be 
multiplied,  if  the  limited  scope  of  this  paper  would  permit 
of  their  narration;  instances  so  thrilling  that  they  still  stir 
one's  blood  to  recall  them  after  an  interval  of  fifty  years.  I 
shall,  however,  select  from  memory  and  from  published  ac- 
counts of  others,  whom  I  remember  as  participants,  only  a 
few  exploits  of  the  many  which  might  be  recorded,  and, 
finally,  some  illustrations  of  the  closing  scenes  when  the 
false  lights  of  the  conquerors  of  Fort  Fisher  decoyed  the  un- 
wary into  the  snare  of  the  fowler  or  hastened  the  retreat  of 
the  few  that  escaped  to  a  neutral  port. 


434  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

A  Close  Call. 

The  following  interesting  narrative,  -which  is  true  in  all 
its  details,  was  told  to  the  writer  by  the  late  George  C.  Mc- 
Dougal,  of  Eosindale,  N.  C,  who,  'by  a  clever  expedient,  kept 
out  of  Fort  Lafayette,  and  made  some  forty  voyages  as  chief 
engineer  in  the  little  steamer  Siren  before  his  former  ship- 
mates were  released: 

''The  well  known  blockade  running  steamer  Margaret  and 
Jessie  left  Nassau  heavily  laden  for  Wilmington,  and  made 
a  good  run  across  to  the  ITorth  Carolina  coast.  About  12  :00 
meridian  she  was  in  the  latitude  of  IsTew  Inlet,  and  she  ran 
on  the  western  edge  of  the  GuK  Stream  until  sundo^vn,  when 
she  headed  for  the  beach  and  made  land  to  the  northward  of 
the  blockading  fleet  of  the  Cape  Fear.  While  tracking  down 
the  beach,  one  of  the  cruisers  sighted  us,  and  sent  up  rockets, 
which  made  it  necessary  for  us  to  run  the  remainder  of  the 
distance  under  fire  from  the  whole  line  of  the  blockaders. 
Just  as  we  got  the  lights  in  range  at  the  Inlet  and  were  about 
to  head  the  ship  over  the  bar,  we  distinguished  a  gunboat 
anchored  in  the  channel  under  cover  of  the  wrecked  steamer 
Arabian.  We  immediately  put  the  ship  about,  and,  with  the 
whole  fleet  trailing  after  us,  ran  off  shore.  At  daylight  none 
of  our  followers  was  in  sight,  but  away  off  shore  to  the 
southward  we  sighted  the  armed  transport  Fulton.  As  we 
could  not  cross  her  bow,  Capt.  Robert  Lockwood,  who  com- 
manded our  ship,  hauled  to  the  northward  and  eastward,  un- 
fortunately driving  us  across  the  bows  of  all  the  cruisers 
which  had  run  off  shore  in  chase.  We  had  to  run  the  fire 
of  five  of  these  war  ships  as  we  crossed  their  bows  and  drop- 
ped "them  astern.  During  all  this  time  the  Fulton  kept  the 
weather  gauge  of  us ;  and  after  a  hard  day's  chase  from  ISTew 
Inlet  to  Hatteras,  we  were  at  last  compelled  to  surrender  late 
in  the  afternoon ;  as  the  Fulton  seemed  determined  to  run  us 
down,  there  being  hardly  a  cable's  length  between  us  when 
we  hove  to  and  stopped  the  engines.  Before  doing  this, 
however,  we  were  careful  to  throw  the  mail  bags,  government 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  435 

dispatches,  and  ship's  papers  into  the  furnace  of  the  fireroom, 
where  they  were  quickly  consumed. 

"While  our  ship's  company  was  being  transferred  to  the 
Fulton,  the  United  States  steamer  Keystone  State  and  two 
other  cruisers  came  up,  and  sent  several  boats'  crews  aboard 
the  Margaret  and  Jessie,  who  looted  her  of  all  the  silver, 
cutlery,  glassware,  cabin  furniture,  table  cloths,  and  napkins 
— doubtless  everything  they  could  carry  off  in  their  boats. 
The  Fulton,  having  sent  a  prize  crew  on  board,  took  us  in 
tow  for  New  York,  where,  immediately  on  our  arrival,  we 
were  confined  in  Ludlow  Street  jail.  Two  days  after,  the 
oflS.cers  and  crew  of  the  blockade  runner  JElla  and  Annie  were 
brought  in,  she  having  been  captured  off  Wilmington  after 
a  desperate  resistance  by  her  brave  commander,  Captain  Bon- 
neau.  During  our  incarceration  we  were  visited  frequently 
by  United  States  deputy  marshals,  who  tried  to  identify  some 
of  us  suspected  of  holding  commissions  in  the  Confederate 
service  and  of  being  regularly  engaged  in  blockade  running, 
as  distinguished  from  those  less  harmful  members  of  the  crew 
who  would  be  only  too  glad  to  abandon  further  attempts  on 
regaining  their  liberty.  These  officers  were  immediately  as- 
sailed with  questions  from  all  quarters.  'What  are  you  going 
to  do  with  us  here  ?'  'Are  you  going  to  let  us  out  V  to  which 
they  would  respond,  'We  cannot  tell — the  crew  lists  have  been 
sent  to  Washington  for  inspection ;  you  will  have  to  wait  until 
they  are  returned.' 

"We  were  kept  in  this  state  of  suspense  for  about  three 
weeks,  when  a  squad  of  deputy  marshals  came  to  the  jail  and 
mustered  the  entire  company.  We  soon  ascertained  that  the 
crew  lists  had  come  from  Washington,  and  that  we  were  to  go 
down  to  the  Marshal's  office,  where  the  names  of  those  who 
were  to  be  released  were  to  be  called  out,  and  the  unfortunate 
ones  remaining  prepared  for  a  long  term  of  imprisonment  at 
one  of  the  well  known  prison-pens  so  dreaded  by  those  who  af- 
terwards realized  all  their  horrors.  We  were,  accordingly, 
marched  down  to  the  Marshal's  headquarters  in  Burton's  old 
29 


436  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

theatre,  on  Chambers  Street,  opposite  City  Hall  Park,  where 
we  were  ordered  to  select  our  baggage  and  prepare  to  be 
searched  for  contraband  articles.     The  entire  oflSce  force  of 
clerks  had  been  drawn  by  curiosity  from  their  desks  to  the 
other  end  of  the  large  room,  where  the  inspection  was  going 
on ;  and  while  my  baggage  was  being  examined  by  an  officer 
I  asked  him  if  he  knew  who  were  to  be  released ;  to  which  he 
replied  that  he  did  not  know,  but  that  the  list  of  those  who 
would  be  released  could  be  found  in  a  large  book  on  that  desk, 
pointing  his  finger  to  the  other  end  of  the  room.     When  his 
inspection  was  completed  I  asked  if  I  might  go  and  read  the 
names  to  satisfy  my  curiosity.     He  said  there  could  be  no 
harm  in  doing  so,  and  asked  if  I  could  read.     I  said,  yes, 
that  I  thought  I  could  make  out  the  names.     Whereupon, 
I  walked  with  forced  indifference  to  the  desk,  and  found  a  big 
journal  laid  open  upon  it,  containing  the  names  of  the  men 
belonging  to  the  Ella  and  Annie  s  crew  who  were  to  be  dis- 
charged.   This  did  not  interest  me  ;  and  looking  further  down 
I  saw,  also,  the  names  of  those  of  my  own  ship  who  were  to  be 
released,  but  from  the  top  to  the  bottom  there  was  no  Greorge 
C.  McDougal.     You  may  depend  upon  it,  I  felt  very  sad  as 
Fort  Lafayette  loomed  up  in  all  its  dreariness.     My  case 
was  indeed  hopeless.     Looking  furtively  over  my  shoulder, 
I  saw  that  the  desk  was  so  placed  that  my  back  shielded  me 
from  the  eyes  of  the  marshals  at  the  moment,  and  also  that 
the  officers  and  clerks  were  very  busy  seeing  what  they  could 
confiscate,  each  man  for  himself,  out  of  the  baggage  of  the 
unfortunate  prisoners ;  and,  feeling  that  no  worse  fate  could 
overtake  me,  I  slipped  my  hand  cautiously  along  the  desk, 
took  up  a  pen  and  imitating  as  closely  as  possible  the  charac- 
ter of  the  writing  before  me,  inscribed  my  own  name  at  the 
bottom  of  the  list,  and  immediately  returned  to  the  crowd  at 
the  other  end  of  the  room.     The  deputy  asked  me  if  I  saw 
my  own  name,  to  which  I  promptly  responded,  'Yes.'    'Then 
you  are  all  right,'  said  he,  'and  will  be  turned  out  to-night.' 
Shortly  afterwards,  we  were  marched  off  to  a  neighboring 
place  to  get  our  supper  at  the  expense  of  Uncle  Sam,  after 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  437 

which  the  Chief  Marshal  and  Judge  Beebe  appeared,  and  in 
due  form  separated  those  who  were  to  be  released  from  the 
unfortunate  ones  remaining.  I  waited,  with  feelings  that  can 
be  imagined  better  than  they  can  be  described,  as  the  names 
were  read ;  and  at  last  mj  own  name  was  called  without  the 
detection  of  my  expedient,  which  was,  doubtless,  owing  to 
the  fact  that  the  room  was  badly  lighted  and  darkness  had 
already  set  in.  Promptly  responding  to  my  name,  I  at  once 
passed  out  into  the  night,  leaving  my  commander.  Captain 
Eobert  Lockwood,  the  Wilmington  pilot,  Mr.  Charles  Craig, 
and  Billy  Willington,  our  engineer,  and  several  others  of  the 
Margaret  and  Jessie,  who,  together  with  Captain  Frank  Bon- 
neau,  his  Wilmington  pilot,  and  his  chief  engineer,  Alexander 
Laurence,  were  sent  to  Fort  Lafayette  where  they  remained 
until  about  the  end  of  the  war. 

The  Kate's  Adventure. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1862  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment, desiring  to  arrange  for  the  importation  of  supplies  for 
the  War  Department,  and  finding  the  principal  ports  of  the 
South  Atlantic  coast  so  well  guarded  by  the  blockaders  that 
the  new  undertaking  of  blockade  running  was  considered 
extra  hazardous,  decided  to  use  the  smaller  inlets,  which  were 
less  carefully  watched  by  the  enemy,  and  dispatched  the 
steamer  Kate  from  l^assau  with  a  cargo  of  ammunition  to 
Smyrna,  Florida,  where  an  entrance  was  safely  effected  by 
that  vessel,  and  the  cargo  immediately  discharged  and  trans- 
ported across  the  country  to  a  place  of  safety. 

The  Kate  was  commanded  by  Capt.  Thomas  J.  Lockwood, 
of  Smithville,  on  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver,  who  was  well  known  to 
our  river  pilots  and  seafaring  people  as  a  man  of  very  superior 
skill  and  seamanship,  and  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  bars 
and  inlets  along  the  Southern  coast. 

A  second  voyage  by  the  Kate  had  been  completed,  and  the 
cargo  successfully  discharged  and  transported,  before  the 
movement  was  made  known  to  the  blockading  squadron;  but 
while  the  Kate  was  waiting  for  the  return  of  Captain  Lock- 


438  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

wood  from  Charleston,  whither  he  had  proceeded  to  bring 
his  family  to  the  ship  at  Smyrna  Inlet,  a  Federal  man-of-war 
discovered  her  hiding  place,  which  forced  the  chief  officer 
of  the  Kate  to  proceed  to  sea  at  once,  leaving  the  captain 
behind.  The  Federal  cruiser  landed  a  boat's  crew,  and 
burned  the  house  of  Mr.  Sheldon,  the  pilot  who  had  assisted 
in  bringing  the  Kate  to  an  anchorage,  shortly  after  which, 
Captain  Lockwood  arrived  with  his  family,  to  find  that  the 
ship  had  already  departed.  Mr.  Sheldon,  however,  furnished 
him  with  an  ordinary  whaleboat,  which  had  escaped  the 
scrutiny  of  the  Federal  man-of-war's  men,  and  Captain  Lock- 
wood  at  once  determined  to  undertake  the  voyage  in  this  frail 
craft,  and  overtake  the  Kate  at  ISTassau.  The  boat  was  only 
sixteen  feet  long  and  not  at  all  well  found  for  such  a  perilous 
voyage. 

After  a  short  delay,  the  captain,  his  brave  wife,  their  two 
children,  and  a  hired  boy,  found  themselves  safe  over  the  bar 
and  headed  for  the  Bahamas.  The  following  account  of  this 
remarkable  voyage  was  written  by  Mrs.  Lockwood,  and  has 
been  kindly  furnished  by  her  brother,  Mr.  McDougal : 

"After  the  baggage  was  safe  on  board,  I  was  carried  in  a 
man's  arms  through  the  surf  and  placed  in  the  boat,  and  we 
started  over  the  sea  in  our  frail  little  craft.  A  few  yards  from 
shore  we  discovered  that  she  was  sinking,  but  turned  back  in 
time  to  reach  the  beach,  to  which  I  was  again  transferred  just 
as  the  boat  went  down.  With  some  difficulty  she  was  re- 
covered, when  it  was  found  that  the  plug  had  come  out  of  the 
bottom  while  drawing  the  boat  over  the  beach.  We  soon 
found  a  remedy  for  this  trouble,  and  proceeded  to  cross  the 
Gulf  Stream.  On  the  following  morning,  the  wind  blew  a 
gale.  The  waves  dashed  high  over  us  all  day,  while  the  wind 
increased  in  fury.  For  fifteen  hours  we  waited  and  prayed, 
thinking  that  every  moment  would  be  our  last.  About  five 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  we  discovered  a  reef  and  steered  along 
the  rocks  to  find  an  opening,  so  that  we  might  cross  the  line 
of  breakers  and  get  into  calm  water.  Oakie  told  us  to  sit 
still  and  hold  fast  to  the  boat,  as  we  must  go  over  the  rocks 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  439 

or  sink.  As  each  enormous  wave  came  towards  us  it  seemed 
to  reach  the  skj  and  break  over  our  frail  craft,  deluging  us 
with  water.  For  several  moments  in  succession  I  would  sit 
under  these  huge  waves,  holding  on  with  one  hand  and  clasp- 
ing mj  babj  with  the  other.  Breaker  after  breaker  burst 
over  us,  and  at  the  same  time  lifted  the  boat  farther  and 
farther  on  to  the  rocks,  until  at  last  we  were  plunged  ahead 
into  the  smooth  water  of  the  bay  beyond.  By  some  means,  I 
cannot  tell  how,  we  reached  one  of  the  vessels  lying  at  anchor, 
when  they  lifted  us  all  on  board  and  carried  us  into  the  cabin. 
We  could  not  walk  for  cold  and  cramp.  On  Sunday,  the  23d, 
the  schooner  upon  which  we  had  taken  refuge  sailed  for 
N'assau,  and  on  Monday  we  landed  on  Elbow  Cay,  one  of  the 
Bahama  Islands,  the  wind  not  being  favorable  for  us  to  con- 
tinue further  that  day.  On  the  25th,  with  a  fair  wind,  we 
again  proceeded  towards  E"assau,  and  arrived  on  Wednesday, 
after  being  three  weeks  on  the  journey  from  Charleston." 

Mr.  McDougal  adds  in  his  journal,  that  he  was  then  chief 
engineer  of  the  steamer  Kate,  of  500  tons,  in  the  Gulf  Stream, 
about  150  miles  from  where  Captain  Lockwood  was  cruising 
in  a  little  boat ;  and  that  the  gale  was  so  severe  that  this  large 
vessel  was  obliged  to  lie  to,  and  suffered  considerable  damage 
in  consequence  of  the  severity  of  the  storm,  and  that  it  seems 
a  miracle  that  a  small  boat  like  Captain  Lockwood's  should 
have  lived  through  such  a  fearful  gale. 

The  British  Flag. 
A  majority  of  the  blockade  runners  bore  British  certifi- 
cates of  registry  and  sailed  under  the  British  flag  because 
they  were  owned  and  manned  by  British  subjects,  and  traded 
with  British  ports.  This  did  not  save  them  from  capture  and 
condemnation  if  caught  with  contraband  cargoes  between 
K"assau  or  Bermuda  and  the  coast  of  the  Southern  States, 
whether  they  attempted  to  break  the  blockade  or  not.  But 
if  they  were  bound  from  a  British  port,  say  ITassau  or  Ber- 
muda, to  a  home  port  in  Great  Britain,  loaded  with  cotton, 
they  would  be  protected  from  capture  by  their  flag  and  regis- 


440  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

ter  and  their  manifest  of  British  ownership ;  or,  if  they  were 
bound  from  Great  Britain  to  I^assau  or  Bermuda  with  arms 
or  war  supplies  and  certified  British  ownership,  although 
ultimately  intending  to  run  the  blockade,  their  papers  would 
protect  them  from  molestation  by  the  Federal  cruisers.  iSTot 
so  with  those  under  the  Confederate  flag,  which  were  liable  to 
capture  whenever  found  on  the  high  seas. 

When  the  War  between  the  States  began  Mr.  Donald  Mac- 
Rae  was  British  Vice  Consul  at  Wilmington.  He  resigned, 
however,  and  Mr.  Alexander  Sprunt  was  appointed  by  Consul 
Henry  Pinckney  Walker  at  Charleston  to  act  in  his  place,  but 
the  function  was  suspended  by  General  Whiting  because  there 
were  no  diplomatic  relations  between  the  foreign  Powers  and 
the  Confederacy,  Great  Britain  having  only  recognized  our 
belligerent  rights. 

It  is  remarkable  that  during  the  entire  war  the  British  flag 
was  the  only  foreign  colors  flown  in  the  ports  of  the  Con- 
federacy. 

Closing  Scenes  in  Blockade  Running. 

The  closing  scenes  of  blockade  running  were  described  by 
Colonel  Scharf  in  his  History  of  the  Confederate  States 
Navy,  as  follows : 

"The  military  and  naval  expeditions  against  Wilmington 
in  December,  1864,  and  in  January,  1865,  resulted  in  the 
capture  of  the  forts  and  the  closing  of  the  port.  Eight  ves- 
sels left  the  port  of  Nassau  between  the  12th  and  16th  of 
January,  one  of  which  took  four  one-hundred-pounder  Arm- 
strong guns ;  and  at  the  time  of  their  sailing  there  were  over 
two  and  a  half  million  pounds  of  bacon  stored  at  iSTassau 
awaiting  transportation.  The  confidence  reposed  in  the  de- 
fense of  Wilmington  continued  unabated  on  the  part  of  the 
blockade  runners,  and  the  Charlotte,  the  Blenheim,  and  the 
Stag,  all  British  steamers,  ran  in  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher, 
and  were  captured  by  the  Federal  cruisers  in  the  river.  The 
blockade  runner  Owl,  Captain  John  X.  Maffitt,  C.  S.  'N.,  in 
command,  succeeded  in  passing  over  the  bar  near  Fort  Cas- 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  441 

well,  and  anchored  at  Smitbville  on  the  night  the  forts  were 
evacuated;  and  immediately  returned  to  Bermuda,  arriving 
on  the  21st,  and  carrying  the  news  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher 
and  the  end  of  blockade  running  at  Wilmington.  Her  ar- 
rival was  timely,  stopping  the  Maud  Camphell,  Old  Domin- 
ion, Florence,  Deer  and  Virginia.  Most,  if  not  all,  of  these 
steamers  now  turned  their  prows  towards  Charleston,  the  last 
harbor  remaining  accessible ;  and,  though  the  fall  of  that  city 
was  impending,  yet  a  cargo  might  be  safely  landed  and  trans- 
ported along  the  interior  line  to  the  famishing  armies  of  the 
Confederate  States.  To  that  end  Captain  Wilkinson  deter- 
mined to  make  the  effort ;  but  it  was  the  part  of  prudence  to 
ascertain,  positively,  before  sailing,  that  Charleston  was  still 
in  our  possession.  This  intelligence  was  brought  by  the 
Chicora,  which  arrived  at  IsTassau  on  the  30th  of  January; 
and  on  February  1st,  the  Oivl,  Carolina,  Dream,  Chicora,  and 
Chameleon  sailed  within  a  few  hours  of  each  other  for 
Charleston. 

"The  effort  was  a  brave  and  gallant  one,  but  was  ineffec- 
tual. The  United  States  ship  Vanderhilt  intercepted  the 
Chameleon,  and,  after  an  exciting  chase,  was  dodged  by  the 
fast  sailing  vessel  under  the  cool  seamanship  of  the  gallant 
Wilkinson.  Turning  on  the  Vanderhilt,  the  Chameleon  again 
attempted  to  reach  Charleston;  but  having  lost  a  day  in  es- 
caping from  her  enemy,  and  being  retarded  by  unfavorable 
weather,  she  did  not  reach  the  coast  near  Charleston  bar  till 
the  fifth  night  after  leaving  ISJ'assau.  The  blockading  fleet, 
reinforced  from  that  off  Wilmington,  now  closed  every  practi- 
cal entrance;  but  it  was  not  until  after  assurances  from  the 
pilot  that  entrance  was  impossible,  that  Captain  Wilkinson 
'turned  away  from  the  land,  and  our  hearts  sank  within  us, 
while  conviction  forced  itself  upon  us  that  the  cause  for  which 
so  much  blood  had  been  shed,  so  many  miseries  bravely  en- 
dured, and  so  many  sacrifices  cheerfully  made,  was  about  to 
perish  at  last.'  The  Chicora,  more  fortunate  than  the  Chame- 
leon, ran  into  Charleston,  but  finding  the  city  evacuated,  ran 
out,  despite  the  effectiveness  of  the  blockade,   and  reached 


442  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Nassau  on  the  28th.  The  Fox,  less  fortunate,  ran  into 
Charleston  in  ignorance  of  its  capture  and  was  seized  by  the 
Federal  cruisers. 

"Capt.  John  N.  Maffitt,  C.  S.  I^.,  in  the  Owl  left  Ha- 
vana, about  the  middle  of  March,  within  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  after  the  United  States  ship  Cherokee  steamed  out 
of  the  harbor.  Passing  Morro  Castle,  the  Owl  hugged  the 
coast  towards  the  west,  followed  by  the  CheroTcee,  the  chase 
continuing  for  an  hour  or  more.  The  Owl  had  speed,  and 
Maffitt  had  the  seamanship  to  'throw  dust  into  the  eyes'  of  his 
pursuer  by  changing  her  coal  from  hard  to  soft ;  thus  clouding 
the  air  with  dense  black  smoke,  under  cover  of  which  the  Owl 
turned  on  the  Cherokee,  and,  steaming  away  to  the  stern  of 
the  cruiser,  disappeared  in  the  darkness  of  night  and  storm." 


THE  COE^FEDERATE  NAVY. 

If  the  Federal  Government  was  unprepared  for  naval  war- 
fare at  the  beginning  of  the  civil  strife,  the  Confederacy  was 
even  less  prepared,  for  it  could  not  claim  the  ownership  of  a 
single  ship.  In  a  conversation  shortly  after  the  war,  our  dis- 
tinguished naval  officer,  Capt.  John  JSTewland  Maffitt,  said : 

"The  Northern  Navy  contributed  materially  to  the  suc- 
cessful issue  of  the  war.  The  grand  mistake  of  the  South  was 
neglecting  her  Navy.  All  our  Army  movements  out  West 
were  baffled  by  the  armed  Federal  steamers  which  swarmed 
on  Western  waters,  and  which  our  government  had  provided 
nothing  to  meet.  Before  the  capture  of  New  Orleans,  the 
South  ought  to  have  had  a  navy  strong  enough  to  prevent  the 
capture  of  that  city  and  hold  firmly  the  Mississippi  and  its 
tributaries.  This  would  have  prevented  many  disastrous 
battles;  it  would  have  made  Sherman's  march  through  the 
country  impossible,  and  Lee  would  have  been  master  of  his 
lines.  The  errors  of  our  government  were  numerous,  but  the 
neglect  of  the  Navy  proved  irremediable  and  fatal. 

"Nobody  here,"  he  continued,  "would  believe  at  first  that 
a  great  war  was  before  us.    South  Carolina  seceded  first,  and 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  443 

improvised  a  navy  consisting  of  two  small  tug  boats !  'Portia 
Carolina  followed  suit,  and  armed  a  tug  and  a  small  passen- 
ger boat !  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Louisiana  put  in  commis- 
sion a  bandful  of  frail  river  boats  that  you  could  have  knocked 
to  pieces  with  a  pistol  shot.  That  was  our  Navy!  Then 
came  Congress  and  voted  money  to  pay  officers  like  myself, 
who  had  resigned  from  the  Federal  E'avy,  but  nothing  to 
build  or  arm  ships  for  us  to  command.  Of  course,  it  woke  up 
by  and  by,  and  ordered  vessels  to  be  built  here,  there,  and 
everywhere,  but  it  was  too  late. 

"And  yet,"  said  the  Captain,  with  a  momentary  kindling 
of  the  eye,  as  the  thought  of  other  days  came  back  to  him, 
"the  Confederate  'Navj,  minute  though  it  was,  won  a  place 
for  itself  in  history.  To  the  Confederates  the  credit  belongs 
of  testing  in  battle  the  invulnerability  of  ironclads,  and  of 
revolutionizing  the  navies  of  the  world.  The  Merrimac  did 
this;  and,  though  we  had  but  a  handful  of  light  cruisers, 
while  the  ocean  swarmed  with  armed  Federal  vessels,  we 
defied  the  Federal  Navy  and  swept  Northern  commerce  from 
the  seas." 

Colonel  Scharf,  in  his  admirable  History  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  Navy,  says :  "In  many  respects  the  most  inter- 
esting chapter  of  the  history  of  the  Confederate  Navy  is  that 
of  the  building  and  operation  of  the  ships-of-war  which  drove 
the  merchant  flag  of  the  United  States  from  the  oceans  and 
almost  extirpated  their  carrying  trade.  But  the  limitations 
of  space  of  this  volume  forbid  more  than  a  brief  review  of  the 
subject.  The  function  of  commerce-destroyers  is  now  so  well 
admitted  as  an  attribute  of  war  between  recognized  belliger- 
ents by  all  nations  of  the  world,  that  no  apology  is  necessary 
for  the  manner  in  which  the  South  conducted  hostilities  upon 
the  high  seas  against  her  enemy ;  and,  while  Federal  officials 
and  organs  styled  the  cruisers  'pirates'  and  their  commanders 
'buccaneers,'  such  stigmatization  has  long  since  been  swept 
away,  along  with  other  rubbish  of  the  War  between  the 
States,  and  their  legal  status  fully  and  honorably  established. 
We  have  not  the  space  for  quotations  from  Prof.  Soley,  Prof. 


444  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Bolles,  and  other  writers  iij^on  this  point;  but  what  they  have 
said  may  be  summed  up  in  the  statement  that  the  government 
and  agents  of  the  Confederacy  transgressed  no  principle  of 
right  in  this  matter,  and  that  if  the  United  States  were  at 
war  to-day,  they  would  strike  at  the  commerce  of  an  enemy 
in  as  nearly  the  same  manner  as  circumstances  would  permit. 
The  justification  of  the  Confederate  authorities  is  not  in  the 
slightest  degree  affected  by  the  fact  that  the  Geneva  Tribunal 
directed  Great  Britain  to  pay  the  General  Government  $15,- 
500,000  in  satisfaction  for  ships  destroyed  by  cruisers  con- 
structed in  British  ports. 

"Eleven  Confederate  cruisers  figured  in  the  Alabama 
Claims'  settlement  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Brit- 
ain. They  were  the  Alabama,  Shenandoah,  Florida,  Talla- 
hassee, Georgia,  Chickamauga,  Nashville,  Retribution,  Sum- 
ter, Sallie,  and  Boston.  The  actual  losses  inflicted  by  the 
Alabama,  $6,547,609,  were  only  $60,000  greater  than  those 
charged  to  the  Shenandoah.  The  sum  total  of  the  claims 
filed  against  the  eleven  cruisers  for  ships  and  cargoes  was 
$17,900,633,  all  but  about  $4,000,000  being  caused  by  the 
Alabama  and  the  Shenandoah.  The  tribunal  decided  that 
Great  Britain  was  in  no  way  responsible  for  the  losses  in- 
fiicted  by  any  cruisers  but  the  Alabama,  Florida,  and  Shenan- 
doah. It  disallowed  all  the  claims  of  the  United  States  for 
indirect  or  consequential  losses,  which  included  the  approxi- 
mate extinction  of  American  commerce  by  the  capture  of 
ships  or  their  transfer  to  foreign  flags.  What  this  amounted 
to  is  shown  in  the  'Case  of  the  United  States'  presented  to  the 
tribunal.  In  this  it  is  stated  that  while  in  1860  two-thirds 
of  the  commerce  of  New  York  was  carried  on  in  American 
bottoms,  in  1863,  three-fourths  was  carried  on  in  foreign  bot- 
toms. The  transfer  of  American  vessels  to  the  British  flag 
to  avoid  capture  is  stated  thus:  In  1861,  vessels  126,  ton- 
nage 71,673;  in  1862,  vessels  135,  tonnage  64,578;  in  1863, 
vessels  348,  tonnage  252,579;  in  1864,  vessels  106,  tonnage 
92,052.  Commanders  of  the  Confederate  cruisers  have 
avoAved  that  the  destruction  of  private  property  and  diversion 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  4.4:5 

of  legitimate  commerce  in  the  performance  of  their  duty  was 
painful  in  the  extreme  to  them ;  but  in  its  wars  the  United 
States  had  always  practiced  this  mode  of  harassing  an  enemy, 
and  had,  indeed,  been  the  most  conspicuous  exemplar  of  it 
that  the  world  ever  saw." 

Since  the  foregoing  was  written  by  Colonel  Scharf  in  1887 
there  has  been  a  growing  aversion  to  privateering  on  the  part 
of  the  principal  commercial  powers,  A  press  association  dis- 
patch from  Washing-ton  during  the  late  Boer  War  said : 

"The  report  from  Brussels  that  former  President  Kruger 
is  being  urged  to  notify  the  powers  that  unless  they  intervene 
in  the  South  African  contest  he  will  commission  privateers 
is  not  treated  seriously  here.  It  is  well  understood,  as  one 
outcome  of  the  war  with  Spain,  that  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment will  never  again,  except  in  the  most  extraordinary 
emergency,  issue  letters  of  marque ;  and  the  same  reasons  that 
impel  our  government  to  this  course  would  undoubtedly  oper- 
ate to  prevent  it  from  recognizing  any  such  warrants  issued 
by  any  other  nation,  even  if  that  nation  were  in  full  standing. 

"In  the  case  of  the  Spanish  War,  both  the  belligerents  by 
agreement  refrained  from  issuing  commissions  to  privateers, 
and  it  now  has  been  many  years  since  the  flag  of  any  reputa- 
ble nation  has  flown  over  such  craft." 

In  this  connection  the  following  letter  written  by  Presi- 
dent Jefferson  Davis  in  1882  at  his  home,  "Beauvoir,"  will 
doubtless  be  interesting: 

(From  Southern  Historical  Society  Papers  for  1883,  Vol.  II.) 

Confederate  Pkivateersmen. 
Letter  Fkom  President  Jefferson  Davis. 

Beaitvoir,  Harrison  County,  Miss., 

June  21,  1882. 
The  Picayune  of  yesterday,  in  its  column  of  "Personal  and  General 
Notes,"  has  the  following: 

"General  William  Raymond  Lee,  of  Boston,  carries  in  his  pocket- 
book  a  little  slip  of  paper  bearing  the  single  word  'Death.'  It  is  the 
ballot  he  drew,  when  a  prisoner  of  war  in  a  jail  at  Richmond,  when 
he  and  two  others  were  chosen  by  lot  to  be  hanged,  in  retaliation 
for  the  sentencing  to  death  of  certain  Confederate  officers  charged 


446  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

with  piracy.  The  sentence  of  the  pirates  was  happily  commuted, 
and  General  Lee  and  his  comrades  were  subsequently  exchanged." 

During  the  war  a  persistent  effort  was  made  to  misrepresent  our 
cause,  and  its  defenders,  by  the  use  of  inappropriate  terms.  Our 
privateers  were  called  "pirates,"  our  cruisers  were  called  "priva- 
teers," and  Admiral  Semmes,  though  regularly  commissioned,  was 
sometimes  called  a  "pirate,"  by  Northern  officials  and  writers.  I  find 
this  word  even  now,  when  time  and  reflection  should  have  corrected 
the  misnomer,  is  used  in  the  paragraph  copied  in  your  paper.  I 
know  nothing  of  the  person  referred  to,  but  the  story  of  a  ballot 
having  been  drawn  with  a  premature  sentence  of  death  is  refuted  by 
the  statement  of  the  course  pursued  by  the  Confederate  Government 
on  the  question  of  retaliation,  in  the  event  of  the  threat  to  execute 
some  of  our  privateersmen  who  had  been  captured  when  cruising, 
with  letters  of  marque,  in  1861. 

On  pages  11  and  12,  Vol.  II,  of  the  Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Confed- 
erate Government,  the  case  is  fully  stated  as  follows: 

"Reference  has  been  made  to  our  want  of  a  Navy,  and  the  efforts 
made  to  supply  the  deficiency.  The  usual  resort  under  such  circum- 
stances to  privateers  was,  in  our  case,  without  the  ordinary  incentive 
of  gain,  as  all  foreign  ports  were  closed  against  our  prizes  and,  our 
own  ports  being  soon  blockaded,  our  vessels,  public  or  private,  had 
but  the  alternative  of  burning  or  bonding  their  captures.  To  those 
who,  nevertheless,  desired  them,  letters  of  marque  were  granted  by 
us,  and  there  was  soon  a  small  fleet  of  vessels  composed  of  those 
which  had  taken  out  these  letters,  and  others  which  had  been  pur- 
chased and  fitted  out  by  the  Navy  Department.  They  hovered  on 
the  coast  of  the  Northern  States,  capturing  and  destroying  their 
vessels,  and  filling  the  enemy  with  consternation.  The  President  of 
the  United  States  had  already  declared  in  his  proclamation  of  April 
19th,  as  above  stated,  that  'any  person,  who,  under  the  pretended 
authority  of  the  said  (Confederate)  States,  should  molest  a  vessel 
of  the  United  States,  or  the  persons  or  cargo  on  board,'  should  be 
held  amenable  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States  for  the  prevention  of 
piracy.  This  was  another  violation  of  international  law,  another 
instance  of  arrogant  disregard  for  universal  opinion.  The  threat,  if 
meant  for  intimidation,  and  to  deprive  the  Confederacy  of  one  of 
the  usual  weapons  of  war,  was  unbecoming  to  the  head  of  a  govern- 
ment. To  have  executed  it  upon  a  helpless  prisoner,  would  have 
been  a  crime  intensified  by  its  cowardice.  Happily  for  the  United 
States,  the  threat  was  not  executed,  but  the  failure  to  carry  out  the 
declared  purpose  was  coupled  with  humiliation,  because  it  was  the 
result  of  a  notice  to  retaliate  as  fully  as  might  need  be  to  stop  such  a 
barbarous  practice.  To  yield  to  the  notice  thus  served  was  a  practi- 
cal admission  by  the  United  States  Government  that  the  Confed- 
eracy had  become  a  power  among  the  nations. 

"On  June  3,  1861,  the  little  schooner  Savannah,  previously  a  pilot 
boat  in  Charleston  harbor  and  sailing  under  a  commission  issued  by 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  447 

authority  of  the  Confederate  States,  was  captured  by  the  United 
States  brig  Perry.  The  crew  was  placed  in  irons  and  sent  to  New 
York.  It  appeared,  from  statements  made  without  contradiction,  that 
they  were  not  treated  as  prisoners  of  war,  whereupon  a  letter  was 
addressed  by  me  to  President  Lincoln,  dated  July  6,  stating  explicitly 
that  'painful  as  will  be  the  necessity,  this  Government  will  deal  out 
to  the  prisoners  held  by  it  the  same  treatment  and  the  same  fate 
as  shall  be  experienced  by  those  captured  on  the  Savannah;  and,  if 
driven  to  the  terrible  necessity  of  retaliation  by  your  execution  of 
any  of  the  officers  or  crew  of  the  Savannah,  that  retaliation  will  be 
extended  so  far  as  shall  be  requisite  to  secure  the  abandonment  of 
a  practice  unknown  to  the  warfare  of  civilized  man,  and  so  barbarous 
as  to  disgrace  the  nation  which  shall  be  guilty  of  inaugurating  it' 
A  reply  was  promised  to  this  letter,  but  none  came.  Still  later  in 
the  year  the  privateer  Jefferson  Davis  was  captured,  the  captain  and 
crew  brought  into  Philadelphia,  and  the  captain  tried  and  found 
guilty  of  piracy  and  threatened  with  death.  Immediately  I  instructed 
General  Winder,  at  Richmond,  to  select  one  prisoner  of  the  highest 
rank,  to  be  confined  in  a  cell  appropriated  to  convicted  felons,  and 
treated  in  all  respects  as  if  convicted,  and  to  be  held  for  execution 
in  the  same  manner  as  might  be  adopted  for  the  execution  of  the 
prisoner  of  war  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  further  instructed  to 
select  thirteen  other  prisoners  of  the  highest  rank,  to  be  held  in  the 
same  manner  as  hostages  for  the  thirteen  prisoners  held  in  New 
York  for  trial  as  pirates.  By  this  course  the  infamous  attempt  made 
by  the  United  States  Government  to  commit  judicial  murder  on 
prisoners  of  war  was  arrested. 

"The  attention  of  the  British  House  of  Lords  was  also  attracted  to 
the  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln  threatening  the  officers  and 
crews  of  privateers  with  the  punishment  of  piracy.  It  led  to  a  dis- 
cussion, in  which  the  Earl  of  Derby  said,  he  'appreciated  that  if  one 
thing  was  clearer  than  another,  it  was  that  privateering  was  not 
piracy,  and  that  no  law  could  make  that  piracy  as  regarded  the 
subjects  of  one  nation,  which  was  not  piracy  by  the  law  of  nations. 
Consequently  the  United  States  must  not  be  allowed  to  entertain 
this  doctrine,  and  to  call  upon  her  Majesty's  Government  not  to 
interfere.'  The  Lord  Chancellor  said,  there  was  'no  doubt,  that  if 
an  Englishman  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  Southern  States,  he 
violated  the  laws  of  his  country,  and  rendered  himself  liable  to 
punishment,  and  had  no  right  to  trust  to  the  protection  of  his 
native  country  to  shield  him  from  the  consequences  of  his  act.  But, 
though  that  individual  would  be  guilty  of  a  breach  of  the  law  of 
his  own  country,  he  could  not  be  treated  as  a  pirate,  and  those  who 
treated  him  as  a  pirate  would  be  guilty  of  murder.' " 

This  narration  of  facts,  and  the  opinions  of  two  disinterested  and 
distinguished  foreigners,  must  be  conclusive  to  every  fair  mind, 
that  to  term  the  prisoners  "pirates,"  was  an  inexcusable  pretext,  and 
that  the  conduct  of  the  Confederate  Government  was  in  strict  accord- 


448  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

ance   with    the    usages    of   civilized    war,    and    that   the    desire    to 
protect  its  citizens,  was  marked  by  no  stain  of  inhumanity. 
Respectfully  yours, 

Jefferson  Davis. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  year  1862,  the  Confederate 
States  Government  began  the  construction  of  an  ironclad 
ram,  named  North  Carolina,  on  the  west  side  of  Cape  Fear 
at  the  shipyard  of  the  late  W.  B.  Berry;  the  drawings  and 
specifications  of  the  vessel  having  been  made  by  Captain 
John  L.  Porter,  Chief  Naval  Constructor  of  the  Confederate 
States  Navy,  with  headquarters  at  Portsmouth,  Virginia. 

The  armament  of  the  North  Carolina  consisted  of  one 
10-inch  pivot  gun  in  the  bow  and  six  broadside  guns  of  about 
8-inch  calibre.  The  timbers  of  the  vessel  were  heavy  pine 
and  hardwood  covered  with  railroad  iron,  giving  the  ram, 
when  launched,  the  appearance  of  a  turtle  in  the  water. 

The  North  Carolina  was  subsequently  anchored  for  a  long 
time  off  Smithville,  as  a  g-uard  vessel  commanding  the  en- 
trance to  the  river  at  the  main  bar,  until  she  was  gradually 
destroyed  by  the  toredo,  or  sea-worm,  and  sank  at  her  moor- 
ings, where,  I  believe,  she  still  remains. 

The  Raleigh,  a  vessel  of  like  construction,  was  built  later 
at  the  wharf  near  the  foot  of  Church  Street ;  and  after  being 
launched  was  completed  at  Cassidey's  shipyard.  Her  con- 
struction and  armament  were  similar  to  that  of  the  North 
Carolijia,  but  she  was  covered  with  heavy  iron  plates  of  two 
thicknesses  running  fore  and  aft  and  athwart  ship. 

I  am  indebted  to  a  distinguished  ex-Confederate  officer  for 
the  following  particulars  of  an  expedition  from  Wilmington 
against  the  Federal  blockading  fleet  off  New  Inlet  Bar,  in 
which  the  Raleigh  took  a  conspicuous  part ;  and  which,  con- 
trary to  the  hopes  and  expectations  of  our  people,  not  only 
proved  to  be  a  dismal  failure,  but  resulted  in  the  loss  of  the 
Raleigh,  which  broke  her  back  while  trying  to  reenter  the 
river  and  sank  in  the  middle  of  the  narrow  channel,  proving 
afterwards  a  troublesome  obstruction  to  the  blockade  runners 
at  New  Inlet. 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  449 

The  ^tar  of  the  Confederacy  was  waning  in  the  spring  of 
1864,  a  depreciated  currency  and  the  scant  supply  of  pro- 
visions and  clothing  had  sent  prices  almost  beyond  the  reach 
of  people  of  moderate  means.  In  Eichmond,  meal  was  $10 
per  bushel;  butter,  $5  per  pound;  sugar,  $12  per  pound; 
bacon,  hog  round,  $4  per  pound;  brogan  shoes,  $25  per  pair; 
felt  hats,  $150;  cotton  cloth,  $30  per  yard;  and  it  was  a 
saying  in  the  Capital  of  the  Confederacy,  that  the  money 
had  to  be  carried  in  the  market  basket  and  the  marketing 
brought  home  in  the  pocketbook. 

Early  in  May  the  condition  of  the  commissariat  had  been 
alarming;  but  a  few  days'  rations  were  left  for  Lee's  army, 
and  only  the  timely  arrival  of  the  blockade  runner  Banshee 
with  provisions  saved  the  troops  from  suffering. 

Wilmington  was  the  only  port  left  to  the  blockade  runners, 
and  the  blockade  of  the  mouths  of  the  Cape  Fear  had  become 
dangerously  stringent.  Some  twenty  steamers  guarded  the 
two  inlets,  besides  two  outer  lines  of  fast  cruisers  between 
this  city  and  the  friendly  ports  of  Nassau  and  the  Bermudas. 
On  dark  nights,  armed  launches  were  sent  into  the  bar  to 
report  outgoing  steamers  by  firing  rockets  in  the  direction 
taken  by  them.  The  ceaseless  vigilance  of  the  forts  could 
scarcely  make  an  exit  for  friendly  vessels  even  comparatively 
free  from  danger.  An  hour  after  dark,  Fort  Fisher,  having 
trailed  its  sea-face  guns  upon  the  bar,  would  ricochet  its 
Columbiad  shot  and  shell  upon  that  point,  so  as  to  frighten 
off  the  launches;  and  then  the  blockade  runners  would  ven- 
ture out  and  take  their  chances  of  running  the  gauntlet  of  the 
blockading  fleet. 

In  this  emergency.  Commodore  Lynch,  commanding  the 
Confederate  fleet  in  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver,  determined  to 
raise  the  blockade  off  ISTew  Inlet,  the  favorite  entrance  of  the 
blockade  runners. 

The  ironclad  ram  Raleigh,  already  described,  Lieut. 
J.  Pembroke  Jones  commanding,  and  two  small  wooden  gun- 
boats, Yadkin  and  Equator,  were  chosen  for  the  purpose. 
Our    late    townsman,    Capt.    E.    W.    Manning,    chief    en- 


450  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

gineer  of  the  station,  and  the  late  Engineer  Smith,  C.  S.  i^., 
of  Fayetteville,  were  in  charge  of  the  machinery  of  the 
Raleigh.  On  the  afternoon  of  May  6,  1864,  the  Commodore 
visited  Fort  Fisher,  to  take  a  reconnoissance,  and  obtain,  as 
far  as  practicable,  the  cooperation  of  the  fort.  Seven  vessels 
were  at  anchorage  at  sundown ;  the  Tuscarora,  Britannia, 
Nansemond,  Howquali,  Mount  Vernon,  Kansas  and  Niphon. 
He  arranged  a  distinguishing  signal  for  his  vessels — a  red 
light  above  a  white  one — so  that  they  would  not  be  fired 
upon  by  the  fort. 

Fort  Fisher  had  its  sea-face  guns  manned  after  dark  by  ex- 
perienced artillerists,  and  about  eight  o'clock  the  range  lights 
were  set  on  the  mound  and  the  Confederate  flotilla  put  to  sea. 
The  commander  of  the  fort,  Col.  William  Lamb,  with  some  of 
his  officers,  repaired  to  the  ramparts  opposite  the  bar  and 
awaited  the  result. 

Within  thirty  minutes  after  the  vessels  had  disappeared 
from  the  vision  of  the  anxious  garrison,  a  few  shots  were 
heard  from  seaward,  and  some  coston  blue  lights  were  seen 
in  the  offing;  then  all  was  dark  as  Erebus  and  silent  as  the 
grave.  Speculation  was  rife  among  the  Confederates  who 
manned  the|funs.  Had  the  foe  been  dispersed  or  destroyed  ? 
Why  were'no  rockets  sent  up  to  announce  a  victory,  to  cheer 
the  thousand  hearts  which  beat  with  anxious  hope  within  Fort 
Fisher  ?  A  long  night  of  waiting  was  spent  without  any  sign 
save  the  occasional  twinkle  of  a  distant  light  at  sea.  The 
gunners  were  relieved  at  midnight,  but  all  continued  dark 
and  silent. 

At  last  day  dawned,  the  breakers  on  the  bar  became  visible, 
the  Raleigh  and  her  consorts  appeared,  and  then  outside  of 
them,  at  long  range,  the  enemy's  fleet.  Shots  were  exchanged 
after  daylight  between  the  combatants ;  one  of  the  Federal 
vessels  fired  rapidly  at  the  Raleigh,  approaching  as  she  fired, 
but,  receiving  a  shot  from  the  ironclad  through  her  smoke- 
stack, withdrew  to  a  safer  distance. 

Then  the  seven  blockaders  came  closer  to  the  Confederate 
fleet,  showing  fight,  and  probably  with  the  intention  of  trying 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  451 

to  run  the  Raleigh  down;  but  that  vessel  and  her  consorts 
headed  for  the  fort  and  steamed  slowly  in,  the  enemy  pru- 
dently keeping  beyond  the  range  of  the  guns  of  Fort  Fisher. 
It  was  a  great  disappointment  that  the  garrison  saw  the 
Raleigh,  Yadkin,  and  Equator  come  over  the  bar  and  under 
the  guns  of  the  fort,  leaving  the  blockading  squadron  ap- 
parently unharmed. 

The  Yadkin  and  Equator  came  safe  into  the  river,  but  the 
Raleigh,  after  passing  the  mound  and  rounding  Confederate 
Point,  grounded  on  the  rip  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Efforts 
were  made  to  lighten  her  and  get  her  off,  but  the  receding 
tide  caused  her  to  hog  and  break  in  two,  on  account  of  the 
heavy  armor,  and,  becoming  a  wreck,  she  subsequently  sank 
and  went  to  pieces.  Little  was  saved  from  her,  but  the  crew 
were  not  endangered,  as  the  weather  was  calm. 


WILMINGTOI^  DURIKG  THE  BLOCKADE. 

(By  an  Ex-Confederate  oiScer.') 

After  the  capital  of  the  Confederacy  there  was  not  in  the 
South  a  more  important  place  than  the  little  town  of  Wil- 
mington, North  Carolina,  about  twenty  miles  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  noted  in  peace  times  for  its  exports 
of  tar,  pitch,  turpentine,  and  lumber. 

Previous  to  the  War  between  the  States  Wilmington  was 
very  gay  and  social.  But  the  War  sadly  changed  the  place 
— many  of  the  old  families  moving  away  into  the  interior, 
and  those  who  remained,  either  from  altered  circumstances 
or  the  loss  of  relatives  in  battle,  living  in  retirement.  When 
we  first  knew  it,  Maj.  Gen.  W.  H.  C.  Whiting  was  in 
command.  He  was  an  Old  Army  officer,  who  for  a  long  time 
had  been  stationed  at  Smithville,  near  the  Old  Inlet  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  where  prior  to  the  war  there  had  been 
a  fort  and  a  garrison,  though  for  some  years  disused. 
Whiting  was  one  of  the  most  accomplished  officers  in  the 
Southern  Army.     He  was  a  splendid  engineer,  and  having 


iln  a  Northern  magazine  after  the  war. 
30 


452  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

been  engaged  in  the  Coast  Survey  for  some  time  on  that  por- 
tion of  the  coast  knew  the  country  thoroughly,  the  capability 
of  defense,  the  strong  and  the  weak  points.  He  was  fond  of 
the  social  glass,  and  may  have  sometimes  gone  too  far.  He 
was  not  popular  with  many  of  the  citizens,  as  he  was  arbi- 
trary, and  paid  little  attention  to  the  suggestions  of  civilians. 
He  was  a  very  handsome,  soldierly-looking  man,  and  though 
rough  sometimes  in  his  manners,  he  was  a  gentleman  at 
heart,  incapable  of  anything  mean  or  low,  and  of  undaunted 
courage.     Peace  to  his  ashes ! 

On  Whiting's  staff  were  three  young  officers  of  great  prom- 
ise: his  brother-in-law,  Maj.  J.  H.  Hill,  of  the  Old  Army, 
now  an  active  express  agent  at  Wilmington;  Maj.  Ben- 
jamin Sloan,  his  ordnance  officer,  now  teaching  school  some- 
where in  the  mountains  of  South  Carolina;  and  Lieut. 
J.  H.  Fairley,  a  young  Irishman,  who  had  been  many  years 
in  this  country,  and  who  hailed  from  South  Carolina.  Fair- 
ley  was  noted  in  the  Army  as  a  daring  scout  and  very  hard 
rider,  withal  one  of  the  quietest  and  most  modest  of  men. 
He  is  now  drumming  for  a  dry-goods  house  in  New  York  in- 
stead of  inspecting  the  outposts.  We  wonder  if  he  recollects 
the  night  when  the  writer  picked  up  a  rattlesnake  in  his 
blanket  at  Masonboro  Sound  ! 

Whiting  scarcely  ever  had  enough  troops  at  his  command 
to  make  up  a  respectable  Confederate  division.  In  1864  he 
had  at  Wilmington  Martin's  brigade,  which  was  a  very  fine 
and  large  one,  composed  of  four  jSTorth  Carolina  regiments, 
remarkably  well  officered;  two  or  three  companies  of  heavy 
artillery  in  the  town,  doing  provost  and  guard  duty ;  at  Fort 
Caswell  at  the  mouth  of  the  Old  Inlet  on  the  Western  Bar, 
a  battalion  of  heavy  artillery  and  a  light  battery;  at  Smith- 
ville  a  similar  battalion;  at  Baldhead,  an  island  opposite 
Fort  Caswell,  Hedrick's  North  Carolina  regiment,  about  600 
effective  men ;  at  Fort  Fisher,  Lamb's  North  Carolina  regi- 
ment, about  700  effective  men ;  a  company  at  Fort  Anderson ; 
a  company  of  the  Seventh  Confederate  States  Cavalry  at  the 
ferry  over  New  River,  sixty  miles  northeast  of  Wilmington, 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  453 

on  the  Sound ;  two  companies  of  cavalry,  a  light  battery,  and  a 
company  of  infantry  at  Kenansville,  forty  miles  north  of 
Wilmington  and  seven  miles  east  of  the  Weldon  Railroad. 
These,  with  two  or  three  light  batteries  scattered  along  the 
Sound,  from  a  little  above  Fort  Fisher  up  to  Topsail,  consti- 
tuted in  the  spring  of  1864  the  whole  Confederate  force  in  the 
Department  of  Cape  Fear. 

With  this  force  and  Whiting's  skill  and  bravery,  we  mili- 
tary men  thought  we  could  hold  Wilmington,  for  we  justly 
regarded  the  General  as  one  of  the  few  eminently  fit  appoint- 
ments that  the  War  Department  had  made.  In  Whiting,  we 
had  implicit  faith.  So,  though  there  were  constant  rumors 
of  expeditions  against  the  place  we  scarcely  believed  they 
were  coming,  so  long  had  the  thing  been  delayed,  and,  in  fact, 
an  attack  was  wished  for  by  the  youthful  Hotspurs  to  relieve 
the  monotony  of  the  garrison  life  at  Caswell,  Baldhead,  and 
Fisher.  Thus  we  had  lapsed  into  a  dream  of  security,  or 
thought,  at  least,  the  evil  day  was  far  off.  We  ate,  drank, 
and  were  merry,  and  there  was  marrying  and  giving  in  mar- 
riage, as  in  the  days  before  the  flood. 

It  seemed  singular  to  us  that  the  United  States  should  so 
long  neglect  to  close  almost  the  only  port  of  the  Confederacy 
into  which,  every  "dark  of  the  moon,"  there  ran  a  half  dozen 
or  so  swift  blockade  runners,  freighted  with  cannon,  muskets, 
and  every  munition  of  war — medicines,  cloth,  shoes,  bacon, 
etc.  Through  that  port  were  brought  till  January  1865,  all 
the  stores  and  material  needed  by  the  indefatigable  Colonel 
Gorgas,^  the  Confederate  chief  of  ordnance,  the  most  efficient 
bureau  officer  the  Confederacy  had.  Thi-ough  it  came  those 
famous  Whitworth  and  Armstrong  guns  sent  us  by  our 
English  friends.  Into  Wilmington  was  brought  by  Mr. 
Commissary  General  Northrop  that  rotten,  putrid  bacon 
called  "JSTassau,"  because  it  had  spoiled  on  the  wharves  of 
that  place  before  being  reshipped  for  Wilmington.  It  was 
coarse  Western  bacon,  bought  by  Confederate  emissaries  at 

iThe  father  of  the  present  (1914)  distinguished  oflBcer  of  that 
name. 


454  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  North ;  and  many  a  time  have  we  imprecated  curses  both 
loud  and  deep  on  poor  old  Northrop's  devoted  head  as  we 
vforried  down  a  piece  of  the  rancid  stuff.  We  must  say,  in 
all  candor,  that  he  was  impartial  in  his  distribution  of  it, 
and  ordered  it  given  to  both  Confederate  trooper  and  Federal 
prisoner.  Northrop  himself  ate  none  of  it ;  he  lived  on  rice ; 
of  which  he  would  buy  a  hogshead  at  a  time  from  the  Com- 
missariat. We  became  so  vitiated  in  our  taste  by  eating  it 
that  at  last  we  came  to  prefer  it  to  good  bacon,  and  liked  the 
strong,  rancid  taste.  We  could  not  afford  to  permit  our 
stomachs  to  cut  up  any  shines,  and  forced  them  to  stand  any 
and  everything  by  breaking  them  into  it. 

But  the  cargoes  of  those  white-painted,  bird-like  looking 
steamers  that  floated  monthly  into  Wilmington,  producing 
such  excitement  and  joy  among  its  population,  unfortunately 
for  the  Confederates,  did  not  contain  Government  stores  and 
munitions  of  war  alone,  bad  as  the  bacon  and  much  of  the 
stuff  bought  abroad  by  worthless  Confederate  agents  were. 
The  public  freight  compared  with  the  private  was  small. 
By  them  were  brought  in  the  cloth  that  made  the  uniforms 
of  those  gaily-decked  clerks  that  swarmed  the  streets  of 
Richmond  with  military  titles,  and  read  the  battle  bulletins 
and  discussed  the  war  news.  From  that  source  came  the 
braid,  buttons,  and  stars  for  that  host  of  "Majors,"  who  were 
truly  fifth  wheels  and  did  not  even  have  the  labor  of  "follow- 
ing the  Colonel  around,"  with  which  the  Confederacy  was 
afflicted. 

As  for  ourselves,  we  never  had  the  pleasure  of  this  sort 
of  thing  but  twice.  Once  by  invitation  of  our  friend 
George  Baer,  alias  Captain  Henry,  who  immortalized  him- 
self by  writing  that  celebrated  protest  concerning  the  capture 
of  the  Greyhound,  and  by  his  escape  from  his  captors  in 
Boston.  Baer  invited  us  to  a  fashionable  10  o'clock  break- 
fast on  the  Index,  which  he  then  commanded,  and  the  conse- 
quence was  we  nearly  stuffed  ourself  to  death,  and  came 
near  having  an  apoplectic  fit. 

The   Confederate   Government  used  to  send  some  queer 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  455 

agents  abroad  at  the  expense  of  the  people.  A  Mrs.  Grin- 
nell  was  sent  out  bj  the  Surgeon  General — so  she  stated — to 
get  bandages,  etc.,  which  nobody  else,  we  suppose,  but  Mrs. 
Grinnell  could  get.  She  was  an  English  woman,  of  that 
class  and  with  those  manners  which  any  man,  if  he  has 
traveled  much,  has  often  seen.  She  gave  herself  out  as  a 
daughter  of  an  English  baronet,  and  had  first  come  to  ISTew 
York  several  years  prior  to  the  war.  Then  there  was  Belle 
Boyd,  who  represented  herself,  we  believe,  as  an  agent  sent 
out  by  Mr.  Benjamin.  She  was  captured,  with  our  friend 
George  Baer,  on  the  Greyhound.  Another  was  a  Mrs.  Bax- 
ley,  of  Baltimore.  She  represented  herself,  we  believe,  as  an 
agent  of  old  Mr.  Memminger. 

Mr.  Mallory's  navy  was  always  the  laughing-stock  of  the 
Army,  and  many  were  the  jeers  that  the  Confederate  ^'mud- 
crushers"  let  off  at  his  ironclads,  formidable  things  as  they 
were,  had  he  properly  managed  the  Confederate  JSTavy.  Cap- 
tain Lynch  was  the  flag-officer  of  the  Cape  Fear  squadron 
when  we  first  went  there.  His  fleet  consisted  of  the  ironclad 
ram  North  Carolina,  which  drew  so  much  water  that  she  could 
never  get  over  the  bars  of  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver  Inlet,  except, 
possibly,  at  the  highest  spring  tide,  and  then  the  chances  were 
against  her  ever  getting  back  again;  the  Raleigh,  another 
ironclad,  not  completed  till  late  in  the  summer  of  1864;  and 
two  or  three  little  steam-tugs.  They  all  came  to  grief.  The 
North  Carolina,  the  bottom  of  which  was  neither  sheathed 
nor  prepared  to  resist  the  worms,  was  pierced  by  them  till 
her  hull  was  like  a  honeycomb,  and  finally  she  sunk  opposite 
Smithville.  The  Raleigh,  after  going  out  and  scaring  off  the 
blockading  fleet  at  the  New  Inlet,  was  beached  and  lost  on 
a  bar  near  Fort  Fisher  in  returning.  The  tugs  were  burned 
on  the  river  subsequent  to  the  evacuation  of  the  town. 

Whiting  and  Lynch,  from  some  cause  or  other,  never  were 
on  good  terms,  jealous  of  each  other's  authority,  we  suppose. 
It  finally  came  near  culminating  seriously.  There  had  been 
an  order  sent  by  Mr.  Mallory  to  Lynch,  in  pursuance  of  an 
act  of  the  Confederate  Congress,  not  to  let  any  vessel  go  out 


456  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

without  taking  out  a  certain  proportion  of  Government  cot- 
ton. Lyncli  was  commander  of  the  naval  defenses  of  the 
Cape  Fear.  By  some  oversight  the  Adjutant  General's  of- 
fice at  Richmond  had  sent  no  such  order  to  Whiting,  who 
commanded  the  department,  and  consequently  the  port  and 
its  regulations.  One  of  Collie's  steamers  was  about  to  go 
out  without  complying  with  the  law.  Old  Lynch  sent  a  half 
company  of  marines  on  board  of  her  and  took  possession. 
This  Whiting  resented  rather  haughtily  as  an  unwarrantable 
interference  with  his  authority  as  commander  of  the  port, 
and,  marching  in  a  battalion  of  the  Seventeenth  North  Caro- 
lina Eegiment,  under  Lieut.  Col.  John  C.  Lamb,  ejected  the 
marines,  and  took  possession  of  the  steamer  and  hauled 
her  up  stream  to  her  wharf.  Lynch  said  he  did  not 
care  how  far  Whiting  took  her  up  the  river,  but  he  vowed 
if  any  attempt  was  made  to  take  her  to  sea,  he  would  sink 
her,  and  he  shotted  his  guns.  Matters  looked  squally  and 
excitement  was  high.  A  collision  was  feared.  They  were 
both  summoned  to  Richmond  to  explain,  and  both  returned 
apparently  satisfied.  Lynch,  however,  was  shortly  afterward 
relieved,  and  Commodore  Pinckney  took  his  place. 

We  had  often  wondered  why  the  port  was  not  more  effect- 
ually closed.  To  tell  the  truth  it  was  hardly  closed  at  all. 
Many  of  the  blockade  runners  continued  their  career  till  the 
fall  of  Fisher.  An  experienced  captain  and  good  engineer 
invariably  brought  a  ship  safe  by  the  blockading  squadron. 
Wilkinson  and  Carter  never  failed — good  sailors,  cool,  cau- 
tious, and  resolute,  they  ran  in  and  out  without  difficulty 
many  times.  The  great  danger  was  from  the  exterior  line  of 
the  blockaders  some  forty  or  fifty  miles  out. 

But  owing  to  the  configuration  of  the  coast  it  is  almost  im- 
possible to  effect  a  close  blockade.  The  Cape  Fear  has  two 
mouths,  the  Old  Inlet,  at  the  entrance  of  which  Fort  Caswell 
stands,  and  the  ISTew  Inlet,  nine  miles  up  the  river,  where 
Fort  Fisher  guards  the  entrance.  From  the  station  off  the 
Old  Inlet,  where  there  were  usually  from  five  to  six  blocka- 
ders, around  to  the  station  off  the  New  Inlet,  a  vessel  would 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  457 

have  to  make  an  arc  of  some  fifty  miles,  owing  to  tlie  Frying 
Pan  Shoals  intervening,  while  from  Caswell  across  to  Fisher 
was  only  nine  miles.  The  plan  of  the  blockade  runners  com- 
ing in  was  to  strike  the  coast  thirty  or  forty  miles  above  or 
below  the  inlets,  and  then  run  along  (of  course  at  night) 
till  they  got  under  the  protection  of  the  forts.  Sometimes 
they  got  in  or  out  by  boldly  running  through  the  blockading 
fleet,  but  that  was  hazardous,  for,  if  discovered,  the  ocean 
was  alive  with  rockets  and  lights,  and  it  was  no  pleasant 
thing  to  have  shells  and  balls  whistling  over  you  and  around 
you.  The  chances  were,  then,  that  if  you  were  not  caught, 
you  had,  in  spite  of  your  speed,  to  throw  a  good  many  bales 
of  cotton  overboard. 

The  wreck  of  these  blockade  runners  not  infrequently  oc- 
curred by  being  stranded  or  beached,  and  highly  diverting 
skirmishes  would  occur  between  the  blockaders  and  the  garri- 
sons of  the  forts  for  the  possession.  The  fleet,  however,  never 
liked  the  AVhitworth  guns  we  had,  which  shot  almost  with  the 
accuracy  of  a  rifle  and  with  a  tremendous  range.  The  sol- 
diers generally  managed  to  wreck  the  stranded  vessels  suc- 
cessfully, though  oftentimes  with  gTeat  peril  and  hardship. 
It  mattered  very  little  to  the  owners  then  who  got  her,  as  they 
did  not  see  much  of  what  was  recovered — the  soldiers  think- 
ing they  were  entitled  to  what  they  got  at  the  risk  of  their 
lives.  But  a  wreck  was  a  most  demoralizing  affair — the 
whole  garrison  generally  got  drunk  and  stayed  drunk  for  a 
week  or  so  afterward.  Brandy  and  fine  wines  flowed  like 
water ;  and  it  was  a  month  perhaps  before  matters  could  be 
got  straight.  Many  accumulated  snug  little  sums  from  the 
misfortunes  of  the  blockade  runners,  who  generally  denounced 
such  pillage  as  piracy ;  but  it  could  not  be  helped. 

We  recollect  the  wrecking  of  the  Ella  off  Bald  Head  in 
December,  1864.  She  belonged  to  the  Bee  Company,  of 
Charleston,  and  was  a  splendid  new  steamer,  on  her  second 
trip  in,  with  a  large  and  valuable  cargo  almost  entirely  owned 
by  private  parties  and  speculators.  She  was  chased  ashore  by 
the   blockading  fleet,    and   immediately   abandoned   by   her 


458  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

officers  and  crew,  whom  nothing  would  induce  to  go  back  in 
order  to  save  her  cargo.  Yankee  shells  flying  over,  and 
through,  and  around  her,  had  no  charms  for  these  sons  of 
IsTeptune.  Captain  Badham,  however,  and  his  company,  the 
Edenton  (IST.  C.)  Battery,  with  Captain  Bahnson,  a  fighting 
Quaker  from  Salem,  N".  C,  boarded  and  wrecked  her  under 
the  fire  of  the  Federals — six  shells  passing  through  the  Ella 
while  they  were  removing  her  cargo.  The  consequence  was 
that  for  a  month  afterward  nearly  the  whole  garrison  were 
on  "a  tight,"  and  groceries  and  drygoods  were  plentiful  in 
that  vicinity.  The  general  demoralization  produced  by  "Lon- 
don Dock"  and  "Hollands"  seemed  even  to  have  affected  that 
holy  man,  the  chaplain,  who  said  some  very  queer  graces  at 
the  headquarters  mess-table. 

Seldom,  however,  was  there  any  loss  of  life  attending  these 
wrecks.  But  there  was  one  notable  case  of  the  drowning  of 
a  famous  woman,  celebrated  for  her  beauty  and  powers  of 
fascination.  We  allude  to  the  death  of  Mrs.  Greenhow,  so 
well  known  for  many  years  in  Washington  circles.  Before 
she  even  crossed  the  Confederate  lines  she  had  undoubtedly 
rendered  valuable  service  to  the  authorities  in  Richmond, 
and  was  in  consequence  imprisoned  by  the  Federal  authori- 
ties in  Washington.  After  coming  to  Richmond  and  laboring 
in  the  hospitals  there  for  some  time,  she  sailed  for  Europe 
from  Wilmington,  and  it  was  on  her  return  trip  that  she  was 
drowned,  just  as  she  reached  the  shores  of  the  South.  She 
had  lived  past  her  beauty's  prime,  had  drunk  deep  of  fash- 
ion's and  folly's  stream  of  pleasure,  had  received  the  admira- 
tion and  adulation  of  hundreds  of  her  fellow-mortals,  and  had 
reached  that  point  in  life  when  those  things  no  longer  please, 
but  pall  on  the  senses.  Her  time  had  come.  The  Condor,  a 
blockade  runner  on  which  she  was  coming  as  a  passenger,  was 
beached  a  short  distance  above  Fort  Fisher,  and  Mrs.  Green- 
how,  fearing  capture  and  the  treatment  of  a  spy,  pleaded  with 
the  captain  to  send  her  ashore.  He  refused,  saying  that  he 
would  protect  her;  but  she  finally  prevailed  upon  him;  and 
manning  a  boat,  he  made  an  effort  to  have  her  taken  to  the 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  459 

shore.  Unfortunatelj,  the  boat  capsized.  She  alone  was 
drowned.  It  was  supposed  the  gold  she  had  sewed  up  in  her 
clothing  weighted  her  down  and  was  the  cause  of  her  drown- 
ing. Her  body  was  found  on  the  beach  at  daylight  by  Mr. 
Thomas  E.  Taylor,  who  afterwards  took  it  to  Wilmington. 
She  was  laid  out  in  the  Seaman's  Bethel,  where  we  saw  her. 
She  was  beautiful  in  death.  After  her  funeral,  her  wardrobe 
and  a  great  many  articles  that  she  had  brought  over  for  sale, 
and  which  had  been  rescued  from  the  wreck,  were  sold  at  auc- 
tion in  Wilmington.  It  was  very  splendid,  and  the  "venture" 
she  had  brought  in  for  sale  was  most  costly.  It  was  said  that 
an  English  countess  or  duchess  had  an  interest  in  this  venture, 
and  was  to  have  shared  the  profits  of  the  speculation. 

But  the  storm  was  soon  to  rain  on  our  devoted  heads. 
Those  white-painted  steamers,  clipping  the  water  so  nimbly, 
with  the  British  and  Confederate  flags  flying,  with  their 
brandies  and  wines,  their  silks  and  calicoes,  their  bananas 
and  oranges,  gladdening  the  hearts  of  the  dwellers  on  the 
banks  of  the  Cape  Eear,  were  soon  to  disappear  from  its 
waters,  and  the  glory  of  Wilmington  to  depart. 

Day  after  day  we  had  watched  the  blockading  fleet  with 
the  naked  eye  and  a  glass,  and  often  thought  what  a  lonely 
time  those  fellows  must  be  having,  and  longed  for  some 
northeast  storm  to  send  them  on  the  coast,  in  order  that  we 
might  have  the  pleasure  of  their  acquaintance.  Cushing's 
acquaintance,  by  the  way,  we  came  very  near  making,  when 
that  daring  officer  came  up  the  Cape  Fear  in  June,  we 
think  it  was  1864,  passing  through  the  J^ew  Inlet  by  Fort 
Fisher,  with  a  boat's  crew  of  some  eighteen  or  twenty  sailors 
and  marines,  and,  landing  half-way  between  the  town  and  the 
fort,  concealed  his  boat  in  a  creek,  and  laid  perdu  on  the 
Wilmington  and  Fisher  road,  waiting  for  Whiting  or  Lamb 
to  come  along.  A  mere  accident  enabled  us  to  escape  him; 
and,  though  of  no  importance  ourself,  we  had  papers  with 
us  at  the  time  that  would  have  been  highly  interesting  to 
the  United  States  Government.  We  all  of  us  admired  his 
courage,  and  thought  it  deserved  success.    We  well  remember 


460  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

delivering  Cushing's  message,  repeated  to  us  by  the  old  citi- 
zen whom  he  caught  and  released,  to  General  Whiting,  that 
"he  had  been  in  Wilmington,  and  would  have  him  or  Colonel 
Lamb  shortly." 

On  December  24,  1864,  the  armada  commanded  by  Butler 
and  Porter  appeared  off  the  coast.  That  day  the  United 
States  forces  under  Butler  landed,  and  the  bombardment  of 
risher  commenced,  and  such  a  feu  d'enfer  as  was  poured  on 
that  devoted  fort  was  never  seen.  Coming  up  the  river  from 
Smithville  on  a  steamer  that  afternoon  we  witnessed  it,  and 
such  a  roar  of  artillery  we  never  heard.  Those  large  double- 
enders  seemed  to  stand  in  remarkably  close  to  the  fort,  and 
deliver  their  fire  with  gi*eat  accuracy,  knocking  up  the  sand 
on  the  ramparts.  It  seemed  a  continuous  hail  of  shot  and 
shell,  many  of  them  going  over  Fisher  and  dropping  into  the 
river.  But  Fisher  was  a  long  sand  fort,  stretching  in  an 
obtuse  angle  from  the  river  bank  around  to  the  mouth  of  the 
'New  Inlet,  that  opened  into  the  ocean.  It  was  over  a  mile 
from  point  to  point.  Though  it  was  thus  heavily  bombarded 
for  two  days,  little  or  no  impression  was  made  on  its  works 
except  to  give  them  a  ragged  appearance,  and  very  few  casual- 
ties occurred,  the  garrison  sticking  mostly  to  their  bomb- 
proofs,  which  were  very  complete.  Whiting  was  there  in 
command  in  person,  having  been  sent  there  by  Bragg,  of 
which  latter  personage  presently. 

The  next  day,  Christmas,  was  Sunday,  and  all  day  Por- 
ter's guns  were  thundering  away  at  Fisher,  and  shaking  the 
windows  in  Wilmington,  where  the  citizens  were  offering  up 
their  prayers  for  our  protection  from  the  enemy.  Communi- 
cation with  Fort  Fisher  by  land  or  telegraph  was  then  cut 
off — the  messages  had  been  sent  up  to  that  time.  Toward 
night  sensational  messages  commenced  to  be  brought  up  from 
below — one  to  the  effect  that  the  enemy  were  on  the  parapet 
at  Fisher  (in  truth  and  in  fact  they  never  got  closer  than  the 
stables,  at  least  two  or  three  hundred  yards  from  the  fort). 
Bragg  sent  Mrs.  Bragg  away  that  night  at  9  p.  m.,  in  a  special 
train  up  the  Weldon  Railroad,  and  an  officer  who  saw  him 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  461 

at  about  11  p.  m.,  reported  that  the  old  gentleman  seemed  to 
be  quite  unnerved,  and  that  his  hand  was  very  tremulous. 
Of  course,  there  was  a  great  exodus  of  civilians  from  the 
place  early  the  next  morning,  the  fact  that  Mrs.  Bragg  had 
gone  off  acting  as  a  keynote  of  alarm  to  others.  By  midday, 
Monday,  however,  these  sensational  reports  and  stories  were 
all  quieted  by  the  authenticated  news  that  the  enemy  had 
reembarked  on  the  fleet  and  that  the  attack  had  ceased.  Then 
the  fleet  sailed,  and  everything  quieted  down.  The  general 
impression  was  that  there  would  not  be  another  attack  till 
after  the  spring  equinox,  say  in  May  or  June. 

When  Whiting  returned  to  the  city,  Bragg  still  continued 
in  command,  and  his  friends  and  himself  evidently  took  the 
credit  of  having  foiled  Butler's  attempt.  Bragg  was  a  friend 
and  favorite  of  Mr.  Davis.  He  had  sided  with  General 
Taylor  in  Taylor's  quarrel  with  General  Scott,  and  Mr. 
Davis  was  a  man  who  never  forgot  his  friends  nor  forgave 
his  enemies.  He  seemed  determined  to  sustain  Bragg  at  all 
events,  though  the  feeling  throughout  the  whole  Army,  and 
in  fact,  the  South,  was  against  that  General.  When  Wilming- 
ton was  known  to  be  threatened,  and  Bragg  was  sent  there, 
the  Eichmond  Examiner  simply  remarked,  "Good-bye,  Wil- 
mington !"  and  the  prediction  was  verified. 

Whiting,  after  the  first  attack,  wrote  to  Bragg,  suggesting 
that  in  case  of  another  attack,  which  would  probably  be  made, 
to  prevent  surprise  he  would  advise  that  Hagood's  South 
Carolina  brigade,  numbering  about  2,000  effective  men,  be 
thrown  into  Fort  Fisher,  the  garrison  of  which  consisted  of 
one  raw,  inexperienced  regiment,  that  had  never  smelled 
powder  except  in  the  first  attack,  and  which  did  not  number 
over  700  effective  men.  Hagood's  troops  were  veterans,  and 
had  been  in  many  a  battle.  He  also  advised  that  the  three 
other  brigades  of  Hoke's  division  be  placed  along  about  the 
spot  where  the  Federals  had  first  landed,  and  be  intrenched 
so  as  to  prevent  a  landing  above  the  fort.  Wise  precautions, 
if  they  had  been  adopted.  Bragg  endorsed  on  the  letter  of 
advice  from  Whiting  that  he  saw  no  necessity  in  carrying  out 


462  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

those  suggestions.  It  was  the  failure  to  carry  out  those  sug- 
gestions that  caused  the  loss  of  Wilmington.  Had  they  been 
followed,  Wilmington  would  not  have  fallen  when  it  did,  nor 
Fisher  have  been  taken.  Instead,  Bragg  brought  Hoke's 
division  up  about  a  half  mile  back  of  Wilmington,  over 
twenty  miles  from  the  Fort,  and  had  a  grand  review  there, 
in  which  he  paraded  himself  in  a  new  suit  of  uniform  pre- 
sented to  him  by  his  admirers  in  Wilmington. 

Whiting's  prediction  about  a  surprise  was  shortly  to  be 
verified.  Thursday  night,  the  10th  of  January,  1865,  the 
fleet  again  appeared  off  Fisher.  This  time  through  Bragg's 
imbecility  it  did  its  work  effectually.  Friday  morning  the 
citizens  of  Wilmington  were  aroused  by  the  booming  of  Por- 
ter's cannon,  a  second  time  opening  on  Fisher.  WTien  the 
news  came  up  at  midnight  that  the  fleet  had  again  appeared, 
the  band  of  Hoke's  division  was  in  town  serenading,  the  offi-  i 
cers  were  visiting,  and  the  men  scattered  about — Bragg,  no  / 
doubt,  asleep  in  fancied  security.  "^  L/  ^ 

Of  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  the  subsequent  inevita- 
ble loss  of  Wilmington,  I  shall  not  speak.  These  events  have 
passed  into  history.  My  purpose  has  been  simply  to  por- 
tray the  aspect  of  Wilmington  when  blockaded. 

Mrs.  Geeenhow. 

(From  Temple  Bar  30—529—1870.) 

I  knew  her  first  in  the  full  tide 

Of  hope  and  burning  zeal, 
For  what  her  ardent  spirit  deemed, 

Her  injured  country's  weal. 

I  marked  the  curl  of  her  proud  lip, 

The  flash  of  her  dark  eye, 
When  for  the  struggling  Southern  cause. 

She  vowed  to  live  and  die. 

Fierce  was  her  glance,  and  fierce  her  words, 

She  loathed  the  Northern  foe. 
With  that  intensity  of  hate 

Impassioned  women  know. 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  463 

Her  frantic  sense  of  bitter  wrongs 

Almost  to  madness  rose, 
When  with  wild  eloquence  she  told 

The  tale  of  Southern  woes. 

Grand,  but  appalling,  was  the  burst 

Of  passion  shook  her  frame, 
When  in  her  breast  the  rushing  tide 

Of  vengeful  anger  came. 

And  yet  at  times  that  troubled  face 

Was  full  of  tender  thought. 
And  to  her  eyes  a  few  kind  words 

A  soft'ning  moisture  brought. 

The  ceaseless  strife,  the  wild  unrest. 

Had  kept  her  years  away 
From  sacred  rites  she  once  had  loved, 

The  Christian's  hope  and  stay. 

Yet  she  had  faith,  and  longed  to  lean 

Her  aching  heart  on  God, 
Whose  arm  had  sheltered  her  along 

The  dangerous  path  she  trod. 

But  to  forgive!     ...    Oh  could  she  say 

She  did  forgive,  whose  cry 
So  long  had  been  the  heathen  prayer, 

"To  be  revenged  and  die!" 

Great  was  the  conflict  in  that  soul, 

Between  grace  and  the  tide 
Of  passion  springing  from  the  might 

Of  human  love  and  pride. 

It  ceased  at  last,  grace  won  the  day; 

She  knelt,  and  though  her  fears. 
And  eager  hopes  for  her  own  land. 

Were  strong  as  in  past  years. 

The  frantic  curse  died  on  her  lips, 

Her  own  wrongs  she  forgave. 
The  heart  that  had  been  fierce  became 

Thenceforward  only  brave. 

Her  strength,  her  life,  to  the  same  cause 

Were  still  as  wildly  giv'n; 
But  a  dark  cloud  no  longer  stood 

Betwixt  her  soul  and  Heaven. 
******* 


464  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

I  saw  her  last,  one  summer  eve. 
In  London,  in  a  room 

Where  brilliant  lights  and  converse  gay- 
Banished  all  thoughts  of  gloom. 

Her  head  was  decked  with  roses  red. 
Bright  jewels  on  her  breast. 

Her  dark  and  most  expressive  eyes. 
The  keenest  hopes  expressed. 

She  poured  in  English  statesmen's  ears 
Her  pleadings  for  the  South; 

It  was  a  joy  to  her  to  feel 
They  heard  them  from  her  mouth. 

She  spoke  of  her  long  prison  days, 
And  of  the  darksome  nights, 

When  running  the  blockade  she  watched 
The  rows  of  lurid  lights. 

The  Northern  vessels  gleaming  o'er 

The  ocean's  sullen  gloom, 
Counting  the  while,  with  throbbing  heart, 

The  minutes  fraught  with  doom. 

She  told  how  she  was  soon  to  sail 

Again  on  the  wild  main. 
And  spite  the  Northern  fleet's  array, 

The  Southern  shore  regain. 

No  other  woman  in  that  bark 

Its  captain  dared  to  take — 
Alone  with  men  prepared  to  die. 

That  passage  she  would  make. 

But  though  she  talked  of  death,  her  words 

No  sad  forebodings  raised. 
The  thought  did  not  arise,  as  on 

That  beaming  face  we  gazed. 

It  sounded  like  a  wild  romance, 

A  tale  of  days  of  yore. 
Rather  a  thing  to  wonder  at, 

Than  sadly  to  deplore. 
****** 

From  Greenock  when  about  to  sail, 

A  kind  farewell  she  wrote. 
To  one  whose  tears  soon  afterwards 

Fell  fast  on  that  brief  note. 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  465 

For  in  the  autumn  of  the  year, 

One  eve  the  Times  I  read, 
With  careless  eyes,  and  then  I  saw 

The  news  that  she  was  dead. 

The  tale  ran  thus:    Near  Wilmington, 

One  rough,  tempestuous  night, 
A  Southern  vessel  in  the  dark 

Essayed  to  land  its  freight. 

The  sea  and  sky  were  black  as  doom. 

No  moon  or  shining  star; 
But  quick  as  lightning  from  the  ships 

Flashed  signal  lights  afar. 

At  once,  in  a  small  open  boat, 

Daring  the  waves  and  wind. 
One  woman  and  two  men  descend, 

A  watery  grave  to  find. 

And  on  the  morrow  on  the  shore, 

A  corpse  that  woman  lay. 
The  bright  eyes  closed,  the  strong  heart  stilled, 

The  long  hair  drenched  with  spray. 

The  treasure  she  had  died  to  save, 

Was  fastened  in  her  vest. 
Not  death  itself  had  torn  it  from 

The  cold  and  silent  breast. 

She  had  been  faithful  to  the  last, — 

To  a  fond,  hopeless  dream; 
She  did  not  live  to  see  it  fade. 

Like  a  delusive  gleam. 

In  the  full  ardor  of  that  faith 

She  died,  and  had  her  meed; 
The  gold  which  she  conveyed  had  reached 

Her  country  in  its  need. 

But  in  her  last,  her  dying  hour. 

If  the  belief  be  true, 
That  drowning  persons  all  their  lives 

At  one  brief  glance  review. 

What  was  the  mem'ry,  what  the  thought. 

That  gave  her  hopes  of  Heaven, 
On  which  her  parting  soul  could  rest 

Its  claim  to  be  forgiven? 


466  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Oh,  was  it  not  the  one  in  which 
Her  softened  heart  had  felt 

The  deep,  fierce  hatred  of  her  foes 
Pass  from  it  as  she  knelt? 

Did  not  the  words,  "Now  go  in  peace," 

Sound  in  her  ears  again? 
Did  they  not  mingle  in  her  dream 

With  the  voice  of  the  main? 

Well  might  we  breathe  a  prayer  and  say, 
"Oh,  may  she  rest  in  peace!" 

Whose  life  had  been  a  wild  unrest. 
Closed  by  a  timely  grace. 

Long,  long  before  me  rose  the  thought. 

The  vision  of  that  scene; 
Of  the  last  struggle  of  the  end, 

Of  all  that  life  had  been. 

Of  all  the  sorrow,  had  she  lived. 
She  had  been  doomed  to  share; 

Of  all  her  ardent  soul  was  spared, 
Of  anguish  and  despair. 

—G.F. 


The  Capture  of  Wilmington. 

Fort  Fisher  fell  January  15,  1865.  General  Hoke,  with 
4,500  veteran  troops  was  intrenched  in  the  sand  hills,  oppo- 
site to  Fort  Anderson,  and  General  Terry,  deeming  his  force 
too  weak,  awaited  reinforcements  before  advancing. 

At  length,  on  February  11,  his  strength  being  8,000,  he 
moved  forward,  but  was  checked  by  Hoke.  On  the  night  of 
the  14th,  he  sought  to  turn  Hoke's  left  flank,  but  again  failed. 
Abandoning  the  plan  of  a  direct  movement,  he  then  threw 
Cox's  division  to  the  west  shore  of  the  river,  purposing  to  ap- 
proach "Wilmington  from  that  direction.  The  ironclads  be- 
gan a  brisk  bombardment  of  Fort  Anderson,  and  Cox  made  a 
feint  as  if  to  attack  the  fort  in  its  front,  but  moved  a  brigade 
around  Orton  pond  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  fort  and  possess 
himself  of  the  open  road  to  Wilmington.  This  movement 
being  discovered.   General  Hagood  at  once  abandoned  the 


BLOCKADE  RUNNING  467 

fort  and  took  post  beyond  Town  Creek.  The  right  and  rear 
of  his  position  thus  being  opened  to  the  fire  of  the  Federal 
fleet,  General  Hoke  fell  back  to  a  more  secure  position,  four 
miles  from  the  town.  On  the  19th  General  Cox  advanced  to 
Town  Creek,  and  Terry  followed  Hoke  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river.  The  following  day  Cox  crossed  Town  Creek  below  the 
Confederate  position,  and  was  able  to  reach  Hagood's  rear, 
after  a  stiff  fight,  capturing  Colonel  Simonton,  who  was  in 
temporary  command,  a  large  number  of  oSicers,  and  395  men. 
Two  days  later  Cox  reached  Eagles  Island,  and  Wilmington 
was  at  his  mercy.  Hoke  thereupon  destroyed  such  property 
as  would  be  of  use  to  the  Federal  Army,  and  retreated  to- 
wards Goldsboro.  On  the  morning  of  the  2 2d,  General  Terry 
entered  and  took  possession  of  the  town. 


31 


Peace  Restored 

EESUMPTION  OF  CAPE  FEAR  COMMERCE. 

After  the  four  years'  war,  the  trade  and  commerce  of  the 
Cape  Fear  gradually  returned  to  normal  conditions.  At 
first  there  was  a  large  coastwise  trade  by  sailing  vessels, 
chiefly  schooners  of  150  to  600  tons  register,  and  a  larger 
volume  of  business  direct  with  Europe  and  the  West  Indies  in 
foreign  bottoms,  consisting  of  brigs,  barques,  and  sometimes 
of  fully  rigged  ships,  of  British,  German,  and  Scandinavian 
origin.  The  exports  were  naval  stores — spirits  turpentine, 
rosin,  tar,  and  some  cotton,  to  Europe,  and  lumber  to  the 
West  Indies. 

For  many  years  after  the  war  Wilmington  maintained 
first  place  in  the  turpentine  and  lumber  trade,  and  there 
were  as  many  as  a  hundred  sailing  vessels  in  port  at  one 
time.  As  the  cotton  trade  increased  it  was  taken  up  by  this 
class  of  vessels,  but  in  1881  the  new  era  of  steam  appeared 
in  the  arrival  of  the  British  steamer  Bamesmore,  chartered 
by  Alexander  Sprunt  &  Sou,  which  loaded  a  cargo  of  3,458 
bales  of  cotton,  673  casks  of  spirits  turpentine,  and  550 
barrels  of  rosin.  Much  ado  was  made  of  this  occasion,  and  a 
banquet  and  speech-making  accentuated  its  importance  to 
the  community,  but  in  his  letter  of  acknowledgment  to  the 
president  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  under  whose  aus- 
pices the  event  was  celebrated,  Captain  Trenery,  of  the 
Bamesmore,  regTetted  to  say  that  the  depth  of  water  in  the 
Cape  Fear  was  not  sufficient  to  encourage  further  steamer 
trade.  He,  however,  complimented  his  enterprising  agents 
for  loading  into  his  ship  in  nine  days,  3,458  bales  of  cotton. 
A  few  weeks  ago  the  same  firm  loaded  one  of  many  cargoes 
within  nine  days,  and  this  cargo  consisted  of  20,300  bales 
of  cotton  valued  at  a  million  and  a  half  dollars,  but  it  caused 
scarcely  a  ripple  of  remark  in  these  progressive  times;  but 
the  contrast  of  the  Bamesmore  with  the  Holtie  is  an  object 
lesson  in  the  development  of  Cape  Fear  commerce.     The 


PEACE  BE  STORED  469 

Barnesmores  draft  was  14  feet.  The  draft  of  the  Holtie  is 
20  feet,  with  seven  to  eight  feet  to  spare  underfoot  in  the 
river  channel,  which  now  shows  27  to  28  feet  from  Wilming- 
ton to  the  sea. 


DISASTROUS  FIRES. 

In  the  preface  to  his  History  of  New  Hanover  County, 
published  in  1909,  Col.  Alfred  Moore  Waddell  said: 

"What  is  called  the  lower  Cape  Fear  Region  of  JSTorth  Car- 
olina has  long  been  recognized  by  the  writers  of  our  history 
as  the  most  interesting,  and,  as  one  of  them  designated  it, 
'the  most  romantic'  section  of  our  State.  Yet,  up  to  this 
time,  although  partial  sketches,  historical  and  biographical, 
have  appeared,  no  attempt  at  a  regular  history  of  it  has  been 
published,  and  now  such  a  history  cannot  be  written  because 
of  the  destruction,  by  fire  and  other  agencies,  of  a  large 
part  of  the  material  requisite  for  the  purpose.  There  was, 
perhaps,  no  part  of  the  country  where  so  many  planters'  resi- 
dences with  all  their  contents  were  lost  by  fire  as  on  the  Cape 
Fear  and  its  tributaries,  and  it  is  well  knovsno.  among  the  de- 
scendants of  those  planters,  some  of  whom  were  members  of 
the  learned  professions,  that  by  these  fires  many  manuscripts, 
family  records,  and  documents  of  various  kinds  that  would 
have  been  invaluable  as  material  for  the  preparation  of  a  local 
history,  were  lost.  Besides  these  fires  on  the  plantations,  the 
town  of  Wilmington  was  at  an  early  period,  as  well  as  several 
times  afterwards,  nearly  destroyed  in  the  same  way,  with 
the  same  results, 

"None  of  the  ancient  official  records  of  the  town  of  Bruns- 
wick were  preserved,  and  a  considerable  part  of  the  county 
records  were  destroyed  by  jSTorthern  soldiers  when  the  town 
of  Smithville  was  captured  by  them  in  1865.  Some  of  the 
town  records  of  Wilmington  of  an  early  period  have  also  dis- 
appeared." 

Many  years  ago,  I  searched  in  vain  the  ruins  of  the  first 
settlement  of  Charlestown,  at  Town  Creek,  for  records  of 
that  date,  but  my  search  was  rewarded  later  by  the  discovery 


470  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

in  the  ruins  of  a  house,  said  to  have  been  the  residence  of 
]!^athaniel  Rice,  of  the  book  of  entries  and  clearances  of  the 
Port  of  Brunswick  in  a  partly  mutilated  condition.  I  also 
searched  at  Lilliput  among  the  ruins  of  Eleazar  Allen's  resi- 
dence, without  result;  also,  the  ruins  of  Governor  Trjon's 
Castle  Tryon,  or  palace  at  Orton,  which  revealed  a  piece  of 
pottery  stamped  "W.  Dry,  Cape  Fear,  1765,"  and  a  large 
bunch  of  housekeeper's  keys  upon  an  iron  ring  and  hook 
which  fitted  into  a  leather  belt  with  a  spring  by  Avhich  a  key 
could  be  withdrawn  and  replaced.  Other  relics  of  less 
importance  were  discovered,  but  no  papers.  All  of  these 
ruins,  as  well  as  the  ruins  of  St.  Philip's  Church,  showed  the 
devastation  of  fire,  in  charred  woodwork  and  melted  colored 
glass. 

As  early  as  1771,  Wilmington  suffered  from  a  terrible 
conflagration,  and  an  act  of  Assembly  was  passed  to  regulate 
the  affairs  of  the  tovni,  in  view  of  possible  fires.  An  account 
is  given  elsewhere  of  the  destruction  wrought  in  1819,  in 
which  it  is  mentioned  that,  in  the  previous  twenty  years, 
there  had  been  several  destructive  conflagrations. 

Mr.  J.  T.  James  says:  "Wilmington,  in  common  with 
many  other  of  her  sister  towns  and  cities,  has  suffered  often 
and  seriously  from  the  terrible  scourge  of  fire,  so  much  so  in- 
deed, that  these  visitations  have,  from  time  to  time,  seriously 
retarded  its  growth.  Scarcely  would  the  citizens  recover 
from  the  effects  of  one  blow,  ere  they  would  be  called  upon  to 
suffer  again.  The  old  chronicles  tell  us  that  in  IsTovember, 
1798,  a  most  destructive  fire  occurred.  On  July  22,  1810, 
three  stores  and  five  houses,  situated  near  what  is  now  the 
corner  of  Market  and  Second  Streets,  but  then  known  as  Mud 
Market,  were  consumed  by  fire  caused  by  lightning.  In  1819, 
there  was  a  most  terrible  conflagration,  and  the  four  squares 
bounded  by  Water,  Princess,  Second  and  Dock  Streets,  were 
destroyed.  In  1827,  the  square  south  of  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent market  house  was  again  burned.  In  1840  the  square 
north  of  the  market  was  consumed  for  the  second  time,  to- 
gether with  the  courthouse,  which  then  stood  at  the  inter- 


PEACE  RESTORED  471 

section  of  Front  and  Market  Streets.  In  1843  occurred  one 
of  the  most  serious  conflagrations  of  any  ever  experienced. 
On  April  30  of  that  year  a  fire  originated  in  the  alley  just 
north  of  the  Cape  Fear  Bank  building  and  swept  with  rapid 
strides  to  the  north.  All  exertions  to  check  it  were  in  vain, 
and  it  was  not  until  everything  west  of  Front  Street  and 
north  of  the  bank  alley  and  portions  of  every  square  east  of 
the  same  street  and  bordering  upon  it  and  north  of  Chestnut 
were  consimied,  that  its  fiery  course  could  be  stopped.  This 
fire  also  destroyed  the  workshops  and  buildings  of  the  Wil- 
mington and  Weldon  Eailroad  Company,  and  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  then  situated,  as  now,  upon  the  corner  of 
Front  and  Walnut  Streets.  Three  years  afterwards,  in  1846, 
the  square  next  south  of  the  market  house  was  again  and  for 
the  third  time  destroyed  by  fire." 

Reference  was  made  to  two  of  these  fires  by  Sir  Charles 
Lyell,  the  famous  geologist,  who  was  in  Wilmington  in  De- 
cember, 1841,  and  again  in  January,  1842 ;  and  still  again 
in  December,  1845.  In  a  letter  written  by  him  from  Wil- 
mington in  December,  1845,  he  said:  "The  streets  which 
had  just  been  laid  in  ashes  when  we  were  here  four  years  ago 
are  now  rebuilt;  but  there  has  been  another  fire  this  year, 
imputed  very  generally  to  incendiarism  because  it  broke  out 
in  many  places  at  once.  There  has  been  a  deficiency  of  fire- 
men, owing  to  the  State  having  discontinued  the  immunity 
from  militia  duty,  formerly  conceded  to  those  who  served  the 
fire  engines."  Some  mention  of  the  fire  of  1843  is  also  made 
in  the  article  on  Governor  Dudley. 

On  Saturday  night,  April  11,  1880,  a  store  building  on 
Front  Street,  between  Market  and  Dock  Streets,  occupied  by 
Geo.  A.  Peck,  was  burned.  During  this  fire  a  volunteer  fire- 
man named  William  Ellerbrook  entered  the  building  followed 
by  his  dog,  a  large  IsTewfoundland.  After  the  fire  was  over 
his  body  was  found  crushed  by  the  walls  and  timbers  of  the 
building,  and  by  his  side  was  found  the  body  of  the  faithful 
dog.  The  dog  had  hold  of  his  master's  coat  and  was  evidently 
trying  to  drag  him  out  of  danger  when  the  crash  came.    Man 


472  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

and  beast  were  buried  together  in  Oakdale  Cemetery,  and  a 
stone  was  erected  by  the  volunteer  fire  company,  of  which 
EUerbrook  was  a  member,  and  by  his  friends. 

About  1880  fire  was  discovered  at  Colville  &  Taylor's  saw- 
mill at  the  foot  of  Walnut  Street.  The  fire  bell  rang  about 
twelve  o'clock  Friday  night,  and  the  fire  companies  were 
dismissed  at  six  o'clock  Sunday  afternoon,  but  while  the  saw- 
mill was  destroyed,  a  large  part  of  the  lumber  was  saved. 
The  Champion  Compress,  near  by,  was  also  saved  after  a  hard 
fight. 

In  the  early  part  of  1886  one  of  the  Fayetteville  steamboats 
drifting  down  the  river  caught  fire.  Her  tiller  ropes  burned 
in  two  and  she  landed  at  the  Clyde  Steamship  wharf,  which 
is  now  used  by  the  Springer  Coal  Co.  From  this  wharf  the 
fire  started  about  two  o'clock,  February  25,  1886,  and  swept 
up  to  the  Champion  Compress  and  destroyed  that  and  the 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  warehouses;  burned  the  Methodist 
church  on  the  corner  of  Front  and  Walnut  Streets  and  every- 
thing on  that  block  except  the  Methodist  parsonage.  Every- 
thing on  the  block  west  of  that  was  also  destroyed.  The  fire 
crossed  Red  Cross  Street  and  burned  Mr.  Henry  Nutt's  hand- 
some residence,  and  sparks  jumped  to  Brooklyn,  and  several 
frame  houses  were  burned  there.  The  fire  department  was 
dismissed  the  next  day,  and  the  military  placed  in  charge 
to  keep  thieves  from  looting  everything  that  had  been  put  in 
the  street. 

Fire  Companies. 

The  first  Wilmington  fire  company  was  organized  in  184Y 
and  chartered  in  1867,  under  the  name  of  the  Wilmington 
Hook  and  Ladder  Company.  In  1857  the  Howard  Eelief 
Fire  Engine  Company  was  organized  and  was  chartered  two 
years  later.  The  third  company  was  chartered  in  1869,  and 
called  the  Wilmington  Steam  Fire  Engine  Company.  All  of 
these  companies  were  volunteer  organizations,  and  the  appara- 
tus for  each  was  purchased  and  maintained  by  subscriptions 
from  the  business  men  of  the  city  and  by  the  dues  of  the  mem- 
bers. 


PEACE  RESTORED  473 

In  addition  to  the  above  named  volunteer  companies,  there 
was  a  fire  company  composed  entirely  of  negroes,  and  about 
1870,  with  the  assistance  of  the  city,  it  was  furnished  with 
a  steam  fire  engine.  This  company  was  almost  entirely 
supported  by  the  city  from  its  inception ;  it  was  a  very  good 
company,  and  did  splendid  work  under  the  command  of 
Valentine  Howe,  who  was  an  exceptionally  fine  negro. 

About  1878  the  first  appropriation  was  made  by  the  city 
for  the  support  of  these  companies,  and  this  was  gradually  in- 
creased, until  in  1898  the  city  took  over  the  property  of  the 
entire  fire  department,  since  which  time  it  has  been  imder 
the  efiicient  leadership  of  Chief  Schnibben. 


CUBA^  MAE"-Or-WAR  IITCIDENT. 

Early  in  October,  1869,  a  remarkable  incident  occurred  in 
Cape  Fear  waters  which  drew  the  attention  of  the  civilized 
world  upon  the  port  of  Wilmington.  Cuba  was  in  a  state 
of  insurrection  against  the  Spanish  Government  and,  although 
there  was  no  established  seat  of  government,  the  Cubans 
proclaimed  a  republic.  ISTeither  the  United  States  nor  any 
foreign  power,  except  some  South  American  States,  had  rec- 
ognized the  Cuban  Eepublic  or  accorded  the  rights  of  bellig- 
erents. 

Therefore,  when  the  Cuban  man-of-war  Cuha,  alias  Hor- 
net, alias  Lady  Stirling^  alias  Prince  Albert,  for  she  had 
assumed  all  of  these  names  in  order  to  escape  detection  at  sea, 
arrived  on  a  quiet  Sunday  morning  in  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver 
she  made  quite  a  sensation,  which  was  increased  when  two 
of  her  ofiicers  appeared  at  the  First  Presbyterian  churcli  in 
Wilmington  and  called  from  his  devotions,  in  front  of  this 
writer,  the  late  Mr.  David  G.  Worth,  the  only  dealer  in  coal 
in  the  town  at  that  time,  with  a  request  that  he  deliver  at 
once  a  supply  of  coal  for  the  Cuban  man-of-war.  The  re- 
quisition upon  the  straight-laced  Presbyterian  was  promptly 
rejected,  much  to  the  disgust  and  dismay  of  the  applicants, 
who  were  told  that  he  did  not  sell  nor  deliver  coal  on  Sunday. 


474  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Meantime,  the  Washington  Government  was  informed  bj 
wire  that  the  Cuba,  a  propeller  of  1,800  tons  register,  with 
two  smokestacks,  two  masts,  brig-rigged,  pierced  for  18  guns, 
two  of  which  were  pivots  of  very  heavy  caliber,  with  a  strange 
flag,  commanded  by  Captain  Higgins,  with  300  men  and  30 
officers,  was  waiting  in  the  port  of  Wilmington  for  needed 
supplies  with  which  to  prey  upon  Spanish  commerce. 

Prompt  action  followed  this  news.  The  U.  S.  gunboat 
Frolic  (formerly  the  IS'orth  Carolina  steamship  blockade 
runner  Advance)  and  two  other  war  vessels  were  dispatched 
to  the  Cape  Eear  to  intercept  the  stranger,  aaid  the  Federal 
Court  subsequently  seized  and  disarmed  her. 


FEDERAL  GOVERjSTMEI^T   IMPROVEMENTS, 
UPPER  CAPE  FEAR. 

The  present  project  for  the  improvement  of  the  upper 
Cape  Fear  River  was  adopted  by  Congress  in  the  River  and 
Harbor  Act  of  June  25,  1910.  This  project  contemplates  an 
improvement  by  canalization  and  dredging  to  obtain  a  navi- 
gable depth  of  water  between  Wilmington  and  Fayetteville 
of  eight  feet.  To  accomplish  this  it  is  planned  to  put  in  two 
locks  and  dams.  The  first  lock  and  dam,  known  as  "Lock 
and  Dam  j^o.  1,"  is  under  construction  at  King's  Bluff,  39 
miles  above  Wilmington ;  and  the  second,  or  "Lock  and  Dam 
'No.  2,"  is  to  be  located  at  Brown's  Landing,  near  Elizabeth- 
town,  72  miles  above  Wilmington.  The  8-foot  channel  be- 
tween Wilmington  and  King's  Bluff  has  already  been  ob- 
tained by  dredging,  and  it  is  only  necessary  now  to  maintain 
it.  The  locks  will  be  of  concrete,  with  pile  foundations  and 
steel-mitering  gates.  The  lock  at  King's  Bluff  will  be  about 
294  feet  long  over  all,  with  a  maximum  width  at  the  base  of 
about  84  feet.  The  walls  will  be  28  feet  high,  and  the  cham- 
ber will  take  vessels  about  200  feet  long  and  40  feet  wide. 
The  dam  will  be  of  the  timber-crib  type  filled  with  stone, 
with  sheet-piling  above  and  below.     It  will  be  about  275 


PEACE  RESTORED  475 

feet  long  and  50  feet  wide,  and  will  raise  tlie  water  eight 
feet  above  that  in  the  lower  part  of  the  river.  The  abutment 
for  the  dam  on  the  side  of  the  river  opposite  the  lock  will  be 
of  reinforced  concrete  pile  construction,  and  will  have  the 
same  height  as  the  lock  walls.  As  the  dam  is  low,  in  compari- 
son with  the  river  banks,  it  will  be  submerged,  and  its  effect 
as  an  obstruction  in  the  river  will  disappear  bj  the  time  the 
river  rises  to  the  top  of  the  bank,  so  that  the  area  of  land 
covered  by  water  during  flood  times  will  be  practically  the 
same  after  the  dam  is  put  in  as  it  is  now.  As  the  lock  walls 
are  much  higher  than  the  dam,  vessels  may  use  the  lock  dur- 
ing a  considerable  rise  in  the  river,  and  when  the  river 
drowns  out  the  lock,  there  will  be  no  fall  over  the  dam  and 
vessels  may  pass  directly  over  it. 

Up  to  the  present  time  the  cofferdam  for  the  lock  has 
been  about  95  per  cent  completed.  This  cofferdam  is  con- 
structed of  steel  interlocking  piling  made  by  the  Lackawanna 
Steel  Company,  and  is  of  the  same  general  type  as  was  used 
in  the  cofferdam  for  raising  the  battleship  Maine.  The  pil- 
ing is  45  feet  long,  and  was  driven  through  from  23  to  28 
feet  of  compact  sand  and  thin  layers  of  rock.  This  piling 
is  anchored  back  by  heavy  steel  wire  cables  to  pile  anchorages 
52  feet  from  the  wall.  In  addition  to  the  above  work  on  the 
cofferdam,  the  dredging  inside  of  the  cofferdam  and  of  the 
approaches  has  been  completed.  This  dredging  involved  the 
removal  of  33,000  cubic  yards  of  material.  Inside  the  coffer- 
dam a  level  bottom  was  secured  about  18  feet  below  water. 
Driving  the  foundation  piles  is  now  in  progress ;  this  requires 
the  driving  of  1,850  piles  with  a  penetration  of  about  23  feet. 
When  it  is  completed,  concrete  will  be  deposited  around  the 
heads  of  the  piles,  the  cofferdam  will  be  pumped  out,  and 
the  lock  wall  built  in  the  dry.  Work  on  the  abutment  will 
be  started  shortly  and  carried  on  simultaneously  with  the 
construction  of  the  lock,  and  as  soon  as  these  are  completed 
the  dam  will  be  built  in  place. 

The  land  at  the  site  for  Lock  and  Dam  IsTo.  2  has  been 
secured  and  work  will  be  started  there  during  the  first  part 


476  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

of  next  year.  The  same  general  type  of  construction  will  be 
used  there  as  at  King's  Bluff.  Here,  however,  the  dam  will 
raise  the  water  12  feet  above  the  level  of  the  water  between 
King's  Bluff  and  Brown's  Landing,  thus  requiring  heavier 
construction  throughout. 

Congress  has  so  far  appropriated  $615,000  for  the  im- 
provement. This  amount  will  be  sufficient  to  complete  Lock 
and  Dam  'No.  1  and  a  part  of  Lock  and  Dam  No.  2,  A  fur- 
ther appropriation  of  $416,000  will  be  necessary  to  complete 
the  project  to  Eayette^alle. 

With  favorable  river  conditions  in  1914,  the  lock  and 
dam  at  King's  Bluff  should  be  completed  by  the  end  of  that 
year.  If  sufficient  money  is  appropriated,  the  lock  and  dam 
at  Brown's  Landing  should  be  finished  by  1916. 

The  advantages  to  be  derived  from  this  improvement  are 
obvious  and  are  those  which  would  naturally  result  from 
certain  all-the-year-round  navigation  with  8-feet  navigable 
depth.  It  will  benefit  the  cities  of  Wilmington  and  Fayette- 
ville,  at  the  two  ends  of  the  improved  channel,  in  a  commer- 
cial way,  acting  as  it  will  as  a  steady  and  increasing  feeder 
to  their  business  activities.  In  addition  to  this,  not  the  least 
important  result  will  be  that  this  stream,  with  its  cheap 
transportation  facilities  close  at  hand,  will  act  as  a  constant 
incentive  to  the  development  of  the  agricultural  resources  of 
the  country  through  which  it  flows. 


BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS  OF  NAVIGATION 
AND  PILOTAGE. 

To  the  efforts  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Naviga- 
tion and  Pilotage,  with  the  cooperation  of  the  Chamber  of 
Commerce  and  with  the  aid  of  our  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress, are  largely  due  the  development  of  the  River  and  Har- 
bor Improvement,  the  marking  of  the  river  and  bar  channel, 
the  building  and  establishment  of  the  new  lightship  on 
Knuckle  Shoal — the  finest  lightship  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States — the  important  aid  to  river  navigation  in  the 


PEACE  RESTORED  477 

thirtj-one  powerful  new  lights  (for  which  the  Board  obtained, 
through  great  perseverance,  an  appropriation  from  Con- 
gress), the  construction  of  the  best  pilot  service  on  the  coast, 
the  systematic  monthly  soundings  of  the  bar  by  competent 
pilots,  the  quarterly  charted  soundings  of  the  bar  and  river 
(which  are  posted  in  the  Chamber  of  Commerce),  the  re- 
duction of  river  and  bar  casualties  until  they  are  almost 
unknown,  the  minimizing  of  the  rates  of  marine  insurance, 
and  the  establishment  by  subscription  of  a  fund  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  widows  and  children  of  deceased  pilots  of  the  Cape 
Fear  Eiver  and  bar,  amounting  now  to  about  $6,000  and 
which  it  is  the  ambition  of  the  chairman  to  raise  to  $20,000. 

These  are  some  of  the  things  which  the  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners of  ISTavigation  and  Pilotage  has  done  for  Wilming- 
ton ;  and  all  of  this  work,  and  much  more,  has  been  done  with- 
out emolument  or  reward,  beyond  the  satisfaction  of  serving 
well  the  Port  of  Wilmington  and  the  Commonwealth  of 
ISTorth  Carolina.  The  Board's  aim  has  been  always  to  build 
up,  and  in  this  constructive  work  it  has  received  the  constant 
support  and  cooperation  of  practically  all  the  working  pilots. 

The  Board  consists  of  three  commissioners  residing  in 
Wilmington  and  two  residing  in  Southport,  all  being  ap- 
pointed every  four  years  by  the  Governor  of  l^orth  Carolina. 
This  is  the  oldest  commercial  organization  in  the  State,  hav- 
ing been  established  about  eighty  years  ago,  and  it  has  always 
been  composed  of  reputable,  experienced  men,  familiar  with 
maritime  affairs  pertaining  to  the  Port  of  Wilmington  and  to 
the  Cape  Pear  Kiver  and  bar. 

The  commissioners  have  authority  in  all  matters  appertain- 
ing to  the  navigation  of  the  Cape  Fear  waters  from  seven 
miles  above  ISTegrohead  Point  downward  and  out  of  the  bar. 
They  license  and  control  the  pilots,  and  have  authority  to 
make  regulations,  and  to  impose  reasonable  fines,  forfeitures, 
and  penalties  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  their  rules  and 
regulations.    They  elect  the  harbor  master  and  port  wardens. 

The  Board  meets  for  the  transaction  of  routine  business  at 
11  o'clock  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  every  month,  and  the 


478  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

chairman   calls   special   meetings   in   cases   of   urgency   for 
official  action. 

Bar  pilotage  is  compulsory,  and,  although  river  pilotage 
is  optional,  the  services  of  a  river  pilot  are  employed  in 
nearly  all  cases. 

U.  S.  REVENUE  CUTTER  SERVICE. 

An  important  arm  of  great  reach  and  efficiency  is  the  ad- 
mirable Revenue  Cutter  Service  on  this  station.  At  no  time 
in  its  history  has  this  service  been  more  effective  in  life- 
saving  and  in  the  rescue  of  imperiled  ships  from  imminent 
destruction  than  during  the  past  three  years.  Within  the 
writer's  memory  more  than  a  hundred  vessels  have  been 
totally  lost  on  or  near  Cape  Fear  and  many  brave  seamen 
went  down  with  them ;  but  such  is  the  equipment  and  effi- 
ciency of  the  cutter  Seminole  and  the  professional  skill  and 
daring  of  her  commander,  his  well  tried  officers  and  men,  that 
valuable  ships  and  crews,  given  up  for  lost  in  the  terrific  win- 
ter gales  of  our  dangerous  coast,  have  been  drawn  out  of  the 
teeth  of  the  destructive  elements  and  restored  to  usefulness, 
and  this  without  reward  or  the  hope  of  reward  beyond  their 
consciousness  of  duty  done. 

Repeated  recognitions  of  rescue  work  have  been  made  by 
Lloyd's  and  other  important  underwriters,  and  two  services  of 
silver  plate  have  been  presented  to  the  commander  and  officers 
of  the  Seminole,  and  quite  recently,  with  the  approval  of 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  a  gymnasium  has  been  pre- 
sented by  friends  of  this  valuable  service,  to  the  crew  of  that 
vessel  as  a  mark  of  appreciation  by  shipowners  and  under- 
writers and  as  a  reward  of  distinguished  merit. 

The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strained  by  the  fine  fellows  who 
respond  so  quickly  and  eagerly  to  the  S.O.S.  wireless  call  for 
help.  An  unwritten  law  compels  them  to  succor  a  fellow 
seaman  in  distress  even  at  the  risk  of  their  own  destruction, 
and  it  stirs  the  blood  of  all  humanity  to  read  of  ships  like  the 
Seminole,  tossed  upon  a  raging  sea,  yet  standing  by  a  sink- 
ing ship  until  every  man  is  rescued  from  the  jaws  of  death. 


PEACE  RESTORED  479 

During  the  past  decade  the  President  of  the  United  States 
has  annually  designated  vessels  of  the  Revenue  Cutter  Serv- 
ice to  actively  patrol  the  Atlantic  coast  during  the  winter 
months  for  the  purpose  of  rendering  aid  to  distressed  mer- 
chant craft.  The  patrol  extends  from  Maine  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  and  has  numbered  as  many  as  ten  cutters.  From  the 
first  day  of  December  of  each  year  to  the  first  day  of  April 
following,  the  patrolling  force  is  contantly  cruising. 

The  littoral  lying  between  Cape  Hatter  as  and  Charleston 
has  for  several  years  constituted  the  station  of  the  Revenue 
Cutter  Seminole.  Measured  between  lightships,  or  over  the 
course  usually  followed  by  coasting  steamers,  the  distance 
between  the  northern  and  southern  extremities  of  this  sta- 
tion is  270  nautical  miles.  This  stretch  of  coast  during  the 
winter  months  is  noted  for  the  disasters  which  occur  to  ship- 
ping. The  Seminole's  record  for  the  winter  season  of  1912- 
13  is  typical.  During  the  four  months  from  December  1, 
1912,  to  April  1,  1913,  the  cutter  assisted,  in  all,  nine 
craft,  comprising  both  steamers  and  sailing  vessels,  and  rep- 
resenting a  value  of  floating  property  of  $993,000,  a  cargo 
value  of  $573,000,  or  a  total  vessel-and-cargo  valuation  of 
$1,566,000.  A  tenth  vessel,  the  Savannah,  a  dangerous 
derelict,  was  destroyed  vdth  a  mine. 

About  six  weeks  before  last  season's  winter  cruising  com- 
menced, the  Seminole  made  a  run  of  over  100  miles  in  a 
northeast  gale  to  the  burning  steamship  Berhsliire,  of  the 
Merchants  and  Miners  Line,  took  off  the  passengers,  put  out 
the  fire,  and  saved  both  vessel  and  cargo  from  total  loss — rep- 
resenting for  cargo  and  vessel  fully  $500,000. 

It  may  be  asked  why  private  wrecking  craft  are  not  avail- 
able to  render  some  of  the  service  performed  by  the  cutters. 
The  fact  is  that  they  are  not  in  evidence.  Nor  can  private 
enterprise  hope  to  cope  with  a  Government  service  in  which 
there  is  high  esprit  du  corps,  such  as  characterizes  the  Rev- 
enue Cutter  Service.  Risks  and  hazards  are  cheerfully  as- 
sumed by  the  Revenue  Cutter  Service,  the  sole  object  to  be 
attained  being  relief  for  the  distressed  and  the  performance  of 
duty. 


480  GAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

GENERAL  CHARACTER  OF  THE  COAST. 

Between  Cape  Hatteras  and  Charleston,  three  dangerous 
shoals  extend  seaward  at  right  angles  to  the  coast,  namely, 
Diamond  Shoals,  Lookout  Shoals,  and  Frying  Pan  Shoals. 
These  shoals  reach  out  from  the  shoreline  to  an  average  dis- 
tance of  twenty  miles,  and  have  an  average  width  of  1.5 
miles.  A  fourth  shoal  exists  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Romain, 
but  of  less  extent  and  of  less  dangerous  character  than  any 
of  those  just  mentioned. 

The  prevailing  winds  on  the  North  Carolina  coast  are 
from  the  northeast  around  to  southeast  and  southwest.  The 
attendant  currents  generally  set  directly  on  the  three  great 
shoals  between  Hatteras  and  Cape  Fear,  and  it  is  in  the 
vicinity  of  these  shoals  that  practically  all  the  maritime 
disasters  on  the  coast  of  the  Carolinas  occur. 

The  treacherous  currents  along  this  stretch  of  coast  are 
largely  responsible  for  the  sweeping  of  vessels  upon  the 
shoals.  From  Cape  Lookout  Bight  to  Frying  Pan  Light- 
ship, Capt.  G.  L.  Garden,  commanding  the  Seminole,  has 
usually  found  it  necessary  to  allow  for  at  least  five  miles 
westerly  set  of  current  on  a  run  of  eighty-nine  miles.  Be- 
low Frying  Pan,  there  is  also  a  strong  set  into  the  bight,  and 
this  is  especially  noticeable  in  the  run  from  Cape  Fear  bar 
to  the  entrance  of  Winy  ah  Bay. 

According  to  Captain  Carden,  there  is  a  safe  rule  for  all 
navigators  to  follow  on  this  station ;  that  is,  never  get  inside 
of  ten  fathoms,  unless  sure  of  one's  position.  The  ten- 
fathom  curve  will  carry  one  clear  of  all  the  great  shoals  from 
Hatteras  to  Romain.  The  same  eminent  authority  said  to 
the  writer:  "A  stranger  approaching  this  section  of  this 
coast  will,  on  finding  himself  in  thick  weather  inside  of  ten 
fathoms,  do  well  to  let  go  an  anchor  at  once." 

The  end  of  Frying  Pan  Shoals  is  marked  by  our  light- 
ship, Number  9 J/.,  and  the  present  position  of  this  craft  is 
most  advantageous  to  vessels  making  for  the  Cape  Fear  bar. 
It  is  a  fact  that  Cape  Fear  Light  is  not  seen  from  the  ex- 


PEACE  RESTORED  481 

treme  end  of  Frying  Pan  Shoals,  and  it  is  the  end  of  the 
spit  which  masters  of  ships  are  so  anxious  to  determine.  A 
gas  buoy,  12  miles  S.  E.  by  E.  14  E.  off  Frying  Pan  Light- 
ship, marks  the  end  of  the  broken  ground.  This  gas  buoy 
is  a  favorite  mark  for  coasting  vessels,  and  is  also  available 
for  ships  coming  in  from  seaward,  but  before  shaping  into 
the  Cape  Fear,  safe  navigation  demands  that  one  should 
find  the  end  of  Frying  Pan,  and  it  is  this  useful  function 
which  the  present  lightship  serves.  From  the  Frying  Pan 
Lightship,  two  courses  only  are  necessary,  one  to  clear  the 
Knuckle  Buoy,  and  a  second  course  direct  to  the  Whistling 
Sea  Buoy.  Then  from  the  sea  buoy  one  has  only  to  run  right 
down  to  the  bell  buoy  marking  the  commencement  of  the 
bar.  ^NTowadays,  crossing  the  Cape  Fear  bar  is  a  very  dif- 
ferent matter  from  what  it  was  under  the  ten  to  twelve  feet 
conditions  of  blockade-running  days,  when  there  were  no 
lights,  or  buoys,  nor  any  guide  save  the  lead,  the  line  of 
breakers,  and  possibly  an  outline  of  shore. 

Wilmington's  approach  from  the  sea  is  a  magnificent 
thoroughfare,  both  across  the  two  miles  of  bar  and  the  twenty- 
seven  miles  of  river  stretch  inland.  The  channel  across  the 
bar  is  well  lighted  and  furnished  with  buoys.  The  prevail- 
ing winds  being  from  the  northward  to  northeast,  the  Frying 
Pan  Shoals  and  Cape  Fear  spit  protect  the  bar  entrance  dur- 
ing the  major  part  of  bad  weather,  making  it  a  better  en- 
trance than  the  former  New  Inlet  channel,  which  led  past 
Fort  Fisher. 

To  maintain  the  magnificent  thoroughfare  of  two  miles  of 
Cape  Fear  bar,  it  is  necessary  for  the  engineers  directing  the 
River  and  Harbor  Improvement  to  keep  a  suction  dredge 
constantly  employed  upon  the  bar,  as  the  currents  are  contin- 
ually sweeping  the  sandy  bottom  into  the  ship  channel, 
thereby  endangering  navigation,  but  as  long  as  continued 
appropriations  are  available  for  this  important  aid,  the  work 
can  be  done  effectively, 

A  project  for  the  permanent  maintenance  of  deep  water  by 
stone  jetties,  similar  to  those  employed  on  Charleston  bar. 


482  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

has  been  discussed  by  our  local  Board  of  Commissioners  of 
I'J'avigation  and  Pilotage,  and  the  matter  has  been  taken  up 
with  Maj.  H.  W.  Stickle,  Corps  of  Engineers,  U.  S.  A.,  com- 
manding this  station. 

The  Frying  Pan  Shoals  must  be  rounded  before  a  vessel 
can  stand  to  the  northward.  The  depth  along  the  Frying 
Pan  spit  varies  from  7  to  14  feet,  and  the  shoals  extend  in  an 
unbroken  line  10  miles  south-southeast  from  Cape  Fear. 
Following  the  same  general  direction  of  the  primal  shoal 
are  numerous  patches  running  out  for  a  distance  of  5  1-2 
miles  farther.  The  depth  over  these  patches  varies  from  10 
to  24  feet.  It  is  just  beyond  these  patches  that  the  Frying 
Pan  Lightship  is  anchored,  and  by  keeping  to  seaward  of  the 
Frying  Pan  Lightship,  there  will  be  no  depth  of  water  en- 
countered less  than  3  3-4  fathoms ;  and  the  patches  can  be 
avoided  by  deep-draft  ships  by  shaping  a  course  which  will 
carry  them  to  the  southward  and  eastward  of  Frying  Pan 
Lightship  until  the  position  of  the  present  lighted  bell  buoy 
is  reached.  The  3  3-4  fathom  patch  referred  to  above  lies  9 
miles  east  by  south  (mag.)  of  the  Frying  Pan  Lightship. 
For  deep-draft  vessels  the  practice  in  running  the  coast  is  to 
pass  outside  the  gas  buoy,  but  the  practice  on  the  Seminole, 
when  coming  from  the  northward,  is  to  shape  straight  to  the 
Frying  Pan  Lightship,  making  allowance  for  fully  five  miles 
inset  of  current  on  a  ninety-mile  course. 

In  general  terms,  a  stranger  approaching  the  coast  between 
Hatteras  and  Frying  Pan  can  determine  his  position  by  re- 
course to  the  lead.  The  depths  are  very  regailar,  and  from 
4  to  6  fathoms  can  be  taken  to  within  one  mile  of  the  beach. 
The  ten-fathom  curve  follows  the  curve  of  the  coast  at  an 
average  distance  of  eight  miles  from  the  shore  until  in  the 
vicinity  of  Cape  Fear,  and  there  it  bends  around  Frying 
Pan. 

There  is  a  mighty  carrying  trade  from  north  to  south  past 
these  dangerous  shoals.  Practically  all  steam  craft  to  and 
from  the  Gulf  follow  the  coast,  and  this  trade  promises  to 
be  greatly  augmented  on  the  opening  of  the  Panama  Canal. 


PEACE  RESTORED  483 

The  Seminole  keeps  eyes  and  ears  open  on  that  part  of  this 
great  thoroughfare  which  has  been  assigned  to  her,  and  night 
and  day  trained  wireless  operators  are  listening  for  a  call. 
At  the  first  call  for  help  the  cutter  must  start,  and  to  be  pre- 
pared for  an  emergency  call  at  any  hour,  and  for  any  stage 
of  weather,  demands  the  constant  attention  of  officers  and 
crew. 

The  headquarters  of  the  Seminole  are  at  Wilmington,  where 
the  Revenue  Cutter  Service  possesses  its  own  wharf  and 
storehouses,  and  at  this  port  the  Seminole  is  provisioned  after 
each  cruise.  The  officers  of  the  Seminole  during  the  year 
1912-13,  were: 

Capt.  Godfrey  L.  Garden,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 

1st  Lieut.  L.  G.  Covell,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 

2d  Lieut.  L.  T.  Ghalker,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 

3d  Lieut.  T.  S.  Klinger,  U.  S.  R.  G.  S. 

3d  Lieut.  G.  H.  Abel,  U.  S.  R.  G.  S. 

1st  Lieut.  Engineers  R.  B.  Adams,  U.  S.  R.  C.  S. 

2d  Lieut.  Engineers  W.  P.  Prall,  U.  S.  R.  G.  S. 

3d  Lieut.  Engineers  G.  C.  Sugden,  U.  S.  R.  G.  S. 

The  wireless  has  contributed  wonderfully  to  the  effective- 
ness of  the  patrol.  The  Seminole  has  picked  up  messages  at 
the  first  call  from  distressed  craft,  and  long  after  the  cutter 
had  started  confirmations  were  being  received  via  official 
sources  from  land.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  ordinarily 
the  Seminole  will  pick  vip  any  distress  call  from  a  modern 
wireless  installation  which  may  be  sent  out  on  her  station. 
What  the  Seminole  may  miss  will  in  all  probability  be  picked 
up  by  either  one  of  the  United  States  powerful  wireless  sta- 
tions at  Beaufort  or  Charleston,  and  the  Seminole  is  always  in 
touch  with  one  or  the  other  of  these  two  stations. 


32 


484  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

CAPE  FEAR  LIFE-SAVIIs^G  SEmT[CE. 

A  public  service  which  measures  its  efficiency  by  the  num- 
ber of  human  lives  saved  from  the  perils  of  the  sea  is  to  be 
classed  among  the  highest  humanities  of  a  great  government. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  its  General  Superintendent,  the 
Honorable  S.  I.  Kimball,  I  have  obtained  the  following  in- 
formation with  particular  reference  to  the  Life-Saving  Serv- 
ice in  the  neighborhood  of  Cape  Fear. 

The  equipment  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Oak  Island  Stations, 
which  are  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Cape  Fear,  consists  of 
beach  apparatus,  including  line-throwing  guns,  projectiles, 
lines,  beach  lights,  signaling  devices,  and  power  boats,  as 
well  as  other  boats.  The  Cape  Fear  Station  has  a  Beebe- 
McLellan  self-bailing  surfboat,  an  open  Beebe  surfboat,  and 
a  Beebe-McLellan  self-bailing  power  surfboat,  with  horizon- 
tal engine;  and  the  Oak  Island  Station  is  equipped  with  a 
Beebe-McLellan  self -bailing  surfboat  and  a  36-foot  self-right- 
ing and  self-bailing  power  lifeboat.  The  Beebe-McLellan 
self-bailing  power  surfboat  and  the  36-foot  self-righting  and 
self-bailing  power  lifeboat  are  the  latest  developments  in 
power  life-saving  boats,  and  are  as  good  as  any  in  the  world. 
A  constant  watch  is  kept  from  the  lookout  towers  of  the  sta- 
tions and  a  beach  patrol  is  maintained  at  night,  and  during 
the  day  when  the  weather  is  thick  or  stormy. 

The  recent  instances  of  service  at  wrecks  by  the  Cape  Fear 
and  Oak  Island  Life-Saving  Stations  have  been  as  follows : 

On  December  8,  1912,  the  steamer  Aloha,  tonnage  42,  value 
$15,000,  with  four  persons  on  board,  was  rendered  assistance 
by  the  Life-Saving  Station  at  Oak  Island ;  also  on  December 
16,  1912,  the  schooner  Dohemo,  value  $7,500,  with  two  per- 
sons on  board,  and  in  the  same  day,  the  launch  Anerida  II, 
value  $1,700,  with  two  persons  on  board,  was  saved. 

On  December  27,  1912,  the  schooner  Savannah,  tonnage 
584,  value  $44,000,  which  was  a  total  loss,  with  nine  persons 
on  board,  and  on  March  26,  1913,  the  British  steamer  Strat- 
hardle,  tonnage  4,377,  value  $120,000,  with  thirty-three  per- 


PEACE  RESTORED  485 

sons  on  board,  were  rendered  assistance  by  the  Life-Saving 
Stations  at  Cape  Fear  and  Oak  Island. 

On  October  10,  1913,  the  schooner  John  TwoJiy,  tonnage 
1,019,  value  $30,000,  which  was  a  total  loss,  with  ten  per- 
sons on  board,  was  rendered  assistance  by  the  Life-Saving  Sta- 
tion at  Cape  Fear. 

The  total  value  of  property  involved  in  the  above  disasters 
was  $218,200;  the  total  value  of  property  lost  was  $74,000, 
and  the  total  number  of  persons  on  board  was  sixty.  No  lives 
were  lost. 

The  rescue  of  the  crew  of  the  schooner  Savannah,  which 
was  stranded  on  the  western  edge  of  Frying  Pan  Shoals,  is 
illustrative  of  the  value  of  this  work.  It  is  indicative  of  the 
service  at  these  stations. 

On  December  27,  1912,  the  584  ton,  four-masted  schooner 
Savannah,  bound  from  Jacksonville,  Florida,  to  Portland, 
Maine,  with  a  cargo  of  pine  lumber,  and  carrying  a  crew  of  9 
men,  all  told,  stranded  about  noon  on  the  western  edge  of 
Frying  Pan  Shoals,  in  a  westerly  gale  and  thick  weather. 
The  vessel  and  cargo,  valued  together  at  more  than  $40,000, 
were  totally  lost.  The  ship's  crew,  however,  were  saved  by 
the  crews  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Oak  Island  Stations. 

As  the  schooner  lay  on  the  shoals,  with  the  mountainous 
seas  dashing  against  her  and  over  her,  she  was  discovered  by 
Keeper  Brinkman  of  the  Cape  Fear  Station.  To  make  sure 
that  she  was  aground  the  keeper  climbed  the  tower  of  the 
Cape  Fear  Light  to  get  a  look  at  her  through  a  spyglass.  On 
leaving  the  tower  he  asked  the  light  keeper  to  set  a  signal, 
which,  according  to  a  previous  understanding,  would  convey 
to  the  station  crew  at  Oak  Island  and  to  the  Eevenue  Cutter 
Seminole,  the  information  that  a  vessel  was  in  trouble  off- 
shore. 

The  Cape  Fear  crew  put  off  the  beach  in  their  surfboat 
without  loss  of  time,  and  covered  the  eight  miles  to  the 
schooner  in  two  and  a  half  hours.  The  Oak  Island  crew 
also  appeared  about  the  same  time  in  their  power  lifeboat. 
It  was  agreed  that  Keeper  Brinkman  should  undertake  the 


486  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

work  of  rescue,  a  boat  under  oars  being  more  readily  and 
safely  bandied  tban  a  power  boat,  in  broken  water  about  a 
wreck.  This  arrangement  was  duly  carried  out,  the  Oak  Is- 
land crew  standing  by,  ready  to  assist  their  comrades  should 
the  surfboat  meet  with  misfortune  while  alongside.  "After 
a  hard  battle  with  wind  and  sea,"  says  Keeper  Brinkmau  in 
his  report,  "we  took  the  captain  and  eight  men  off." 

The  rescue  accomplished,  the  sailors  were  transferred  to 
the  power  boat,  which  thereupon  proceeded  ashore  with  the 
surfboat  in  tow. 

The  ship's  crew  were  cared  for  at  the  Oak  Island  Station 
until  the  following  morning,  when  they  were  placed  aboard 
the  Seminole^  which  had  appeared  off  the  station  during  the 
night.  The  cutter  and  two  tugs  attempted  to  float  the  schooner, 
but  without  success. 

The  total  approximate  cost  of  maintaining  the  Cape  Fear 
and  Oak  Island  Stations  and  for  salaries  during  the  fiscal  year 
which  ended  June  30,  1913,  was  $17,430,  the  expense  being 
about  evenly  divided  between  the  two  stations.  The  amounts 
expended  for  salaries  were  $7,089.10  and  $6,940.80  for  the 
Cape  Fear  and  Oak  Island  Stations,  respectively.  The  ex- 
pense for  maintaining  the  stations  averaged  about  $1,700 
each,  during  the  year.  The  cost  of  rebuilding  the  Cape 
Fear  Station,  now  under  way,  will  amount  to  between  four 
and  five  thousand  dollars. 

In  his  letter  to  the  writer  Mr.  Kimball  kindly  adds : 

"The  interest  you  manifest  in  the  Service  is  warmly  ap- 
preciated, and  I  beg  to  assure  you  that  I  am  glad  to  comply 
with  your  request.  I  have  heard  of  you  and  your  work,  and 
shall  be  pleased  always  to  give  you  any  information  I  can  in 
relation  to  the  Life-Saving  Service." 


PEACE  RESTORED  487 

CAPE  FEAR  AIDS  TO  NAVIGATION 

The  aids  to  the  navigation  of  the  Cape  Fear,  which  are 
effective  in  the  steady  expansion  of  our  commerce,  are  largely 
due  to  the  watchful  care  and  cordial  cooperation  of  our  Com- 
missioners of  ISTavigation  and  Pilotage  and  to  our  Chamber 
of  Commerce,  supported  by  our  Representatives  in  Congress, 
and  I  may  add  that  they  are  more  particularly  due  to  the 
untiring  devotion  of  our  junior  Senator,  Lee  S.  Overman, 
whose  powerful  personality  has  repeatedly  prevailed  in  the 
securement  of  special  appropriations  when  other  means  which 
had  been  employed  failed  to  interest  the  department  officials 
at  Washington. 

Our  acknowledgments  are  specially  due  Senator  Overman 
for  his  excellent  service  to  Wilmington  in  procuring  the 
greatly  improved  river  lights,  and  the  new  Lightship  Number 
91^,  on  Frying  Pan  Shoals,  after  our  former  light  vessel  had 
been  arbitrarily  removed,  and  in  safeguarding  by  special  act 
of  Congress  this  most  important  aid  from  a  second  removal  to 
a  much  less  important  position  to  us,  thirty  miles  at  sea.  He 
has  proven  the  adage,  "A  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed." 

A  prominent  master  mariner  has  well  said,  "If  we  want 
to  mark  a  dangerous  hole  in  the  public  highway,  we  do  not 
place  a  lantern  on  the  next  block  away  from  the  danger,  but 
we  put  a  light  on  the  spot  where  the  danger  lies."  There- 
fore, why  should  we  permit  the  removal  of  our  lightship  from 
the  Frying  Pan  Shoals,  on  which  it  has  been  moored  as  a 
beacon  for  half  a  century,  to  a  point  thirty  miles  at  sea  for 
the  benefit  of  coastwise  traffic  which  does  not  come  to  Wil- 
mington at  all?  With  the  lightship  ahead,  the  careful 
mariner  makes  the  port  in  safety ;  with  the  lightship  invisible 
behind  him,  he  gropes  in  darkness  and  in  danger  of  disaster. 

Comparatively  few  of  the  citizens  of  our  commercial  com- 
munity are  interested  in  the  detail  work  of  the  Department  of 
Commerce  at  Washington,  or  its  very  important  Lighthouse 
Service  to  those  who  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships  and  do  busi- 
ness upon  its  great  waters. 


488  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

This  is  probably  due  chiefly  to  the  technical  nature  of  the 
information  regularly  published  and  easily  obtained  from  the 
obliging  inspector  of  the  sixth  district,  who  has  given  me 
the  following  comprehensive  review  of  the  aids  to  navigation 
along  our  dangerous  coast  and  up  the  River  Cape  Fear  to 
the  port  of  Wilmington. 

With  general  depths  of  7  to  14  feet,  Frying  Pan  Shoals 
extend  in  an  unbroken  line  10  miles  south-southeastward 
from  Cape  Fear;  for  a  distance  of  51^  miles  farther  in  the 
same  direction  the  shoals  are  broken,  the  depth  over  them 
ranging  from  10  to  24  feet.  Frying  Pan  Shoals  light  ves- 
sel is  moored  off  the  end  of  this  part  of  the  shoals,  and  a  red 
whistling  buoy  is  moored  off  the  western  side  of  the  shoals, 
nearly  8^  miles  northwestward  of  the  light  vessel. 

Broken  ground  with  depths  of  6  to  Y  fathoms  extends  7 
miles  eastward  and  12  miles  east-southeastward  from  the  light 
vessel ;  the  least  depth  is  3%  fathoms,  and  lies  9  miles  99 
degrees  true  (E.  by  S.)  of  the  light  vessel.  The  outer  end 
of  the  shoals  is  marked  by  a  gas-and-bell  buoy  (flashing 
white  light),  which  lies  12  miles,  118  degrees  true  (SE.  by  E. 
^  E.)  of  Frying  Pan  Shoals  light  vessel.  Large,  deep- 
draft  vessels  generally  pass  southward  of  the  gas  and  bell 
buoy." 

Light  Vessel  Number  9Jf.  was  built  for  the  station  on  Frying 
Pan  Shoals,  in  the  sixth  lighthouse  district.  The  vessel  is 
135  feet  9  inches  over  all,  with  a  beam  of  29  feet  and  a 
draft  of  12  feet  9  inches;  the  displacement  at  this  draft 
is  660  tons.  The  hull  is  built  of  mild  steel  with  two 
wooden  deck-houses  on  the  spar  deck  serving  the  purpose 
of  pilot-house  and  bridge-and-radio  house.  One  steel  lantern 
mast,  of  diameter  sufficient  to  contain  a  ladder  giving  access 
to  the  lantern,  and  a  wooden  mainmast,  carrying  a  fore-and- 
aft  sail,  are  fitted. 

The  signal  light  is  carried  on  the  lantern  mast.  It  con- 
sists of  an  incandescent  oil-vapor  light  mounted  in  a  lens  of 
the  fourth  order,  and  gives  a  light  of  2,900  candle-power. 

The  fog  signal  apparatus  consists  of  a  12-inch  deep-toned 


PEACE  RESTORED  489 

chime  whistle  connected  to  the  main  boilers.  Steam  is  sup- 
plied through  a  reducing  valve,  and  a  specially  designed  verti- 
cal engine  is  arranged  to  cut  off  steam  to  the  whistle  so  as  to 
give  the  characteristic:  Blast,  5  seconds;  silent,  55  seconds. 
A  submarine  bell,  actuated  by  compressed  air,  strikes  one 
stroke  every  3  seconds. 

This  vessel  was  equipped  with  radio  outfit  before  being 
placed  on  the  station,  so  that  its  effective  date  would  be  co- 
incident with  the  establishment  of  the  vessel.  This  installa- 
tion has  an  effective  radius  of  about  200  miles,  and  besides 
being  of  great  value  to  passing  vessels,  it  is  of  great  aid  to 
the  Lighthouse  Service  in  keeping  the  vessel  to  the  highest 
state  of  efficiency  as  an  aid. 

The  propelling  machinery  consists  of  one  vertical,  direct- 
action,  surface-condensing,  fore-and-aft  compound  engine, 
having  cylinders  16  and  31  inches  in  diameter  by  24  inches 
stroke,  driving  a  cast  steel  propeller  8  feet  in  diameter  by 
ten-foot  pitch,  and  supplied  by  steam  under  a  pressure  of 
110  poimds  per  square  inch  of  heating  surface.  The  ma- 
chinery and  boilers  are  located  amidship.  The  vessel  is  fitted 
throughout  with  all  modem  appliances,  including  steam 
windlass,  sanitary  plumbing  and  fixtures,  and  drainage  sys- 
tem, but  has  no  electric-lighting  system. 

The  complement  of  this  vessel  is  four  officers  and  ten 
men.  The  officers'  quarters,  mess-room,  pantry,  and  bath- 
room are  located  as  far  as  practicable  on  the  main  deck. 
Quarters  for  the  crew,  including  the  galley,  are  located  on 
the  main  deck  just  forward  of  the  boilers  and  machinery. 
The  oil-room  and  stores  are  located  on  the  lower  deck  and  in 
the  hold  forward  and  aft.  The  hull  is  yellow,  with  "Frying 
Pan"  in  large  black  letters  on  each  side.  This  vessel  was 
constructed  under  the  Act  of  May  27,  1908,  appropriating 
$115,000.  The  vessel  was  built  under  contract  at  Muskegon, 
Michigan,  and  the  cost  was  $104,080.37.  Construction  was 
commenced  on  May  28,  1909,  and  was  completed  and  the 
vessel  delivered  to  the  Government  on  June  13,  1911.  On 
November  15,  1911,  the  light  vessel  was  placed  on  the  station 
in  the  sixth  lighthouse  district. 


490  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

The  cape  is  a  low,  sharp  point  of  saud  beach  fonning  the 
southern  extremity  of  Smith  Island.  The  island,  lying  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  entrance  to  Cape  Fear  River,  is  mostly 
low  and  marshy,  but  has  a  thick  growth  of  trees  on  its  west- 
em  side.  Near  the  southern  end  of  the  island  is  Cape  Fear 
Lighthouse,  which  will  usually  be  the  first  object  seen  in 
approaching  the  cape. 

The  lighthouse  on  the  cape  is  a  white,  iron,  skeleton  tower, 
upp«r  part  black.  The  light  is  flashing  white  (light  2.3, 
eclipse  7.7  seconds),  159  feet  above  the  water,  and  visible  19 
miles.  The  light  is  incandescent  oil  vapor,  using  a  mantle 
214  inches  in  diameter,  and  the  intensity  of  the  flash  through 
the  lens,  which  is  six  feet  in  diameter,  is  160,000  candles. 
This  light  was  built  in  1903,  and  is,  with  one  exception,  the 
newest  and  most  modem  first-class  lighthouse  in  the  district. 

On  the  west  side  of  Smith  Island,  east  side  of  tlie  entrance 
to  the  Cape  Fear  River,  is  Bald  Head  Lighthouse.  The 
structure  is  a  white,  octagonal,  pyramidal  tower.  The  light 
is  flashing  white  with  a  dark  sector  between  220  degrees  and 
308  degrees,  99  feet  above  the  water,  and  visible  16  miles. 
This  light  has  recently  been  converted  from  an  oil  light  with 
a  keeper  to  an  unwatched  gaslight,  and  now  forms  a  part  of 
the  system  described  below. 

Cape  Fear  River  has  a  total  length  of  above  371  miles, 
and  empties  into  the  sea  immediately  west  of  Cape  Fear. 
It  is  the  approach  of  the  City  of  Wilmington,  which  is  27 
miles  above  its  mouth.  Frying  Pan  Shoals  Light  Vessel, 
Cape  Fear  Lighthouse,  and  Bald  Head  Lighthouse  are  the 
principal  guides  for  the  approach. 

The  entrance  of  the  river  is  obstructed  by  a  bar  which 
extends  about  two  miles  off-shore.  The  channel  is  under 
improvement  to  secure  a  depth  of  26  feet  from  the  sea  to 
Wilmington,  with  a  width  of  400  feet  across  the  bar,  300 
feet  in  the  river,  and  an  increased  width  at  the  bends.  In 
June,  1912,  the  full  depth  had  been  obtained,  but  not  the 
full  width  in  places.  The  channel  is  well  marked  by  range 
lights  and  buoys,  and  with  the  aid  of  a  chart  it  could  not  be 


PEACE  RESTORED 


491 


diflScult  for  a  stranger  of  16  feet  draft  to  navigate  it  on  a 
rising  tide. 

Cape  Feah  Rivek  Lights. 

These  aids  consist  of  thirty-three  lights  marking  the 
dredged  channels  of  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver.  Thej  replace 
twenty-nine  lights,  mostly  of  the  oil-burning  post-lantern 
type,  on  old  wooden  structures,  and  not  properly  placed  to 
mark  the  new  channels.  Ten  of  the  new  lighted  beacons 
were  established  December  1,  1912,  and  the  remainder  ISTo- 
vember  15,  1913. 

The  aids  extend  along  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver  from  the  en- 
trance to  Wilmington,  a  distance  of  about  twenty-nine  miles. 
The  sites  are  (except  in  three  cases)  submarine,  the  depth 
of  water  averaging  six  feet.  The  bottom  is  hard  sand,  under- 
laid with  rock  in  a  few  cases. 

The  substructures  built  on  marine  sites  (thirty  in  all) 
consist  each  of  four  reinforced  concrete  piles  and  connecting 
beams.  These  are  surmounted  by  skeleton  towers  of  galvan- 
ized iron  pipe,  carrying  slatted  wooden  daymarks.  Towers 
for  rear  range  lights  are  thirty  feet  high  and  for  front  lights 
and  others  ten  feet  high. 

A  variety  of  illuminating  apparatus  has  been  installed,  as 
follows : 


No. 

Apparatus 

lUuminant 

Characteristic 

Candlepower 

i 

Reflector 

Range  lens 

4th  Order  lens 

300  mm.  lens  lanterns 

300  mm.  lens  lanterns 

300  mm.  lens  lanterns 

300  mm.  lens  lanterns 

Oil 

Acetylene 
Acetylene 
Acetylene 
Acetylene 
Acetylene 
Oil 

Fixed 

Flashing  every  second 

Occulting  every  2  seconds 

Flashing  every  second 

Flashing  every  3  seconds 

Occulting  every  2  seconds 

Fixed 

3,100 
3,000 
830 
200 
200 
200 
170 

In  general  acetylene  is  used  as  the  illuminant,  where  possi- 
ble, for  a  distance  of  about  twenty  miles  from  the  entrance, 
and  oil  from  there  to  Wilmington.  All  acetylene  lights  are 
white,  rear  lights  being  occulting  every  two  seconds  and 
front  lights  flashing  every  second.  All  oil  lights  are  fixed, 
rear  lights  white,  and  front  lights  red. 


492  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Eight  of  the  white  range  lights  which  could  be  suitably 
located  abreast  of  turns  in  the  channel  are  provided  with  red 
sectors  of  30  degrees  covering  these  turns. 

There  have  been  no  quarters  provided,  all  lights  being  un- 
watched.  The  change  of  illuminant  in  Bald  Head  Light, 
which  constitutes  a  unit  of  this  system,  makes  quarters  no 
longer  necessary  in  connection  therewith.  The  entire  group 
of  lights  are  cared  for  by  two  post  light  keepers,  one  resident 
near  Southport,  near  the  entrance,  having  charge  of  three 
oil  and  sixteen  gas  lights,  and  one  at  Wilmington,  at  the 
other  end  of  the  group  of  lights,  having  charge  of  fourteen 
oil  lights.  All  gas  lights  are  so  located  that  gas  tanks  can 
be  landed  from  a  launch  directly  upon  the  structure,  except 
at  Bald  Head  Light. 

These  improvements  in  the  lighting  of  the  Cape  Fear  River 
are  being  made  under  the  Act  of  March  4,  1911,  appropri- 
ating $21,000,  and  the  Act  of  Aug-ust  26,  1912,  appropriating 
$30,000  additional.  The  total  expenditures  and  obligations 
for  the  thirty-three  lights  to  September  30,  1913,  is  $50,- 
076.30,  with  a  probable  further  expenditure  of  $500  for  one 
additional  light,  and  $300  for  clearing  timber  which  par- 
tially obstructs  one  range  line. 

Other  aids  supplementing  the  lighted  aids  mentioned  above 
are,  Frying  Pan  Shoals  Whistling  Buoy,  westsvard  of  the 
outer  end  of  the  shoals ;  Cape  Fear  Entrance  Whistling  Buoy, 
about  two  and  one-half  miles  off  the  bar ;  Cape  Fear  Entrance 
Bell  Buoy,  at  the  entrance  to  dredged  channels,  and  thirty- 
three  iron  buoys  and  five  beacons  marking  turns  and  other 
critical  points  in  the  dredged  channels  in  the  river.  Two 
other  iron  buoys  mark  the  quarantine  anchorage,  and  one 
marks  a  wreck  on  the  middle  ground  at  the  mouth  of  the 
river. 


PEACE  BE  STORED  493 

USE  OF  OIL  TO  PREVENT  BREAKING  SEAS. 

About  the  year  1870  the  late  Alexander  Sprunt,  founder 
of  the  firm  of  Alexander  Sprunt  &  Son,  demonstrated  in  a 
magazine  article  published  abroad  the  efficacy  of  the  use  of 
oil  at  sea  in  stormy  weather.  He  subsequently  endeavored  to 
induce  the  British  Admiralty  to  provide  every  ship  with  his 
simple  device  for  protection  against  breaking  seas  while  lying 
to,  and  received  some  recognition. 

At  that  time,  in  the  winter,  we  loaded  a  small  brig  of 
about  two  hundred  tons  register  with  a  heavy  cargo  of  naval 
stores  for  Europe.  The  captain  was  induced  to  provide  a 
barrel  of  crude  oil,  two  canvas  bags  perforated  with  a  large 
needle,  and  a  twenty-foot  spar  with  block  and  tackle,  to  be 
used  in  case  of  need.  On  his  return  to  Wilmington  some 
months  later,  he  gratefully  acknowledged  that  his  ship  and 
crew  had  been  providentially  saved  from  destruction  by  this 
simple  and  effective  provision. 

He  was  obliged  to  lay  to  for  several  days  in  a  hurricane. 
The  heavy  waves  smashed  the  boats  and  threatened  to  destroy 
the  vessel.  He  thought  of  the  oil  and  at  once  applied  it. 
Running  the  spar  out  on  the  weather  side,  he  filled  the  bags 
with  oil  and  hauled  them  out  to  the  end  of  the  spar.  Im- 
mediately a  thin  covering  of  oil  spread  over  the  advancing 
waves  and,  although  the  brig  rose  and  fell  upon  the  moun- 
tainous seas,  the  water  did  not  break,  and  the  little  vessel 
rode  out  the  gale  in  safety. 

In  the  Hydrographic  Bulletin  of  the  Navy,  December  31, 
1913,  the  following  reference  is  made  to  the  use  of  oil  to 
calm  seas: 

"Imperial  Transport  (Br.  ss.),  Capt.  E.  R.  Frankland: 

"On  November  25,  1913,  during  the  voyage  from  Narvik 
toward  Philadelphia,  a  hurricane  struck  the  vessel  from  the 
southwest,  gradually  shifting  to  the  westward.  The  hurri- 
cane was  of  such  force  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  steam 
against  it.  The  engines,  therefore,  were  stopped,  and  the 
vessel,  losing  headway,  fell  off  beam-on  to  the  sea.  During 
this  operation  oil  was  used  plentifully,  several  pints  being 


494  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

throAvn  on  the  deck,  and  the  same  washing  overboard  to 
windward  smoothed  the  tops  of  the  seas,  thus  stopping  them 
to  a  great  extent  from  breaking  on  board.  When  the  vessel 
was  drifting,  two  oil  bags  were  hung  overboard  to  windward, 
one  at  each  end  of  the  bridge  deck,  each  bag  being  attached 
to  fifteen  fathoms  of  line,  this  usage  greatly  assisting  in 
arresting  the  force  of  the  seas.  One  oil  bag  was  hung  in  the 
forward  lavatory  at  the  break  of  the  forecastle  head,  and  the 
flush  left  open,  the  oil  thus  coming  in  contact  with  the  sea 
without  being  blown  to  leeward.  The  same  operation  was 
repeated  in  the  lavatory  amidships.  A  hand  was  stationed 
in  each  of  these  places  replenishing  the  oil  bags.  During  the 
squalls  a  little  oil  was  also  poured  down  the  pipes  from  a  can. 
The  seas,  although  breaking  heavily  to  windward,  had  the 
force  taken  out  of  them  when  coming  in  contact  with  this 
second  distribution  of  oil.  We  subsequently  encountered 
seven  hurricanes,  and  oil  was  used  in  the  same  manner  and 
with  the  same  effect.  The  oils  used  were  fish,  colza,  engine, 
and  linseed,  and  no  apparent  difference  in  effect  was  noticed. 
All  of  the  hurricanes  started  from  the  south  and  veered  to 
north  through  west,  and  then  backed  from  north  to  south 
through  west.  The  same  was  experienced  in  the  storms  of 
lesser  violence.  At  no  time  during  the  passage  was  the  wind 
from  the  eastward  unless  at  the  beginning  of  the  storm, 
when  sometimes  it  was  SSE.  I  might  add  that  the  vessel 
came  through  with  the  minimum  of  damage,  considering  the 
terrific  weather  encountered." 

A  more  recent  test  of  this  device  was  made  by  the  Revenue 
Cutter  Seminole.  In  reply  to  my  inquiry,  Capt.  G.  L.  Garden 
says,  under  date  of  January  11,  1914: 

"I  am  attaching  herewith  a  memorandum  relative  to  the 
use  of  oil  by  the  Seminole  when  working  on  the  schooner 
Thomas  Whismore.  As  a  further  proof  of  the  efiicacy  of  oil, 
I  had  occasion  during  the  month  of  October,  1910,  when 
commanding  the  Manning  in  the  Pacific,  to  have  recourse  to 
oil.  We  had  left  Kodiak  Island  for  a  run  across  to  the 
Alaska  coast,  shaping  for  Cape  Ommaney.  It  had  been 
blowing  a  gale  of  wind  for  three  days  from  the  northwest  and, 


PEACE  RESTORED  495 

not  long  after  clearing  the  lee  of  Kodiak,  I  encountered  a 
tremendous  sea.  Nothing  like  it  had  been  seen  during  the 
entire  past  five  months  in  the  far  North.  The  Manning  was 
put  before  the  seas,  but  it  seemed  as  if  every  moment  they 
must  break  aboard.  In  the  mouths  of  the  forward  closet 
bowls,  on  either  side  of  the  bow,  canvas  bags  filled  with 
oakum  were  placed.  The  bags  were  punctured  with  ordi- 
nary sail  needles,  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  fish  oil  was  poured 
into  the  oakum-filled  bags.  The  closet  traps  were  then  raised 
and  very  soon  a  thin  film  of  oil  was  seen  to  reach  out  on 
either  side  of  the  ship  for  a  distance  of  about  ten  feet,  spread- 
ing out  fan-tail  fashion  as  it  worked  aft.  At  a  distance  of 
twenty  feet  abaft  the  stern,  I  should  say,  the  width  of  the  oil 
space  was  fully  fifty  feet.  The  effect  was  marvelous.  The 
big  seas  would  come  up  right  to  the  edge  of  the  oilfield 
and  then  dive  under  the  ship  and  pass  away  forward.  The 
film  of  oil  alongside  kept  the  seas  from  slapping  aboard.  I 
ran  the  Manning  very  slowly  throughout  the  greater  part  of 
the  night,  but  towards  morning  the  wind  and  sea  abated  and 
we  were  able  to  head  up  on  our  regiilar  course.  During  the 
entire  night  I  do  not  believe  we  used  over  ten  gallons  of  oil." 
Memormidum: — The  American  schooner  Thomas  Wins- 
more  was  found  at  7:30  a.  m.,  January  4,  1914,  close  to  the 
breakers  on  Lookout  Shoals.  The  8em,inole  at  the  time  was 
in  charge  of  First  Lieut.  Eben  Barker.  A  fresh  west- 
erly gale  was  blowing.  The  Thomas  Winsmore  was  display- 
ing her  ensig-n  union  down.  The  seas  were  breaking  com- 
pletely over  the  schooner.  The  Seminole  anchored  to  wind- 
ward of  the  Winsmore,  veering  down  chain  so  as  to  bring  the 
cutter  near  the  schooner.  Efforts  to  shoot  a  line  aboard  by 
means  of  a  line-firing  gun  proved  abortive.  Oil  was  used 
freely  through  the  closets  forward.  The  oil  formed  a  slick 
astern  of  the  Seminole  and  prevented  the  seas  from  breaking. 
After  a  plentiful  use  of  the  oil,  a  pulling  boat  was  lowered 
and  a  four-inch  line  was  nm  to  the  Winsmore.  By  means 
of  the  four-inch  line  a  ten-inch  hawser  was  later  gotten 
aboard  the  distressed  craft.  The  Winsmore  was  then  towed 
into  the  lee  of  Lookout  Bight. 


496  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

EARTHQUAKE  OF  1886. 

On  the  31st  of  August,  1886,  I  was  a  passenger  in  mid- 
ocean  on  the  Cunard  steamer  Eh-uria,  bound  from  Liverpool 
to  ISTew  York,  in  company  with  the  Honorable  William  A. 
Courtenay,  who  was  then  major  of  Charleston.  These  were 
the  days  before  the  Marconi  wireless  system  of  communica- 
tion with  vessels  at  sea,  and  we  had  no  thought  of  the  fearful 
earthquake  of  that  date  which  shook  Wilmington  to  its  foun- 
dations and  nearly  destroyed  the  city  of  Charleston. 

At  the  quarantine  station  in  ]^ew  York  Harbor  we  were 
handed  several  telegrams,  and,  looking  up  in  dismay  from 
the  reading  of  one  addi-essed  to  me,  I  saw  that  Mr.  Courtenay 
had  suddenly  vanished  without  a  word.  Panic  stricken  by 
the  terrifying  news,  he  had  hurried  ashore  to  cat<!h  the  first 
train  to  Charleston. 

On  my  arrival  at  Masonboro  Sound,  where  my  family  was 
residing,  I  heard  with  great  thankfulness  that  my  household 
had  escaped  injury.  My  wife  had  retired  early  with  the  two 
children,  and  she  was  awakened  by  the  upheaval  of  the  bed 
and  the  falling  of  glassware  from  the  mantel ;  temfied  by  the 
thought  that  the  door  would  be  jammed  by  the  twisting 
framework,  she  pulled  it  open  with  desperate  effort  and,  with 
a  child  under  each  arm,  she  ran  to  the  open  ground,  which 
was  soon  covered  by  neighbors  and  servants  in  a  panic,  in- 
tensified by  the  screams  of  the  horses  confined  in  the  stables, 
and  by  the  loud  lamentations  of  the  negroes,  who  thought  the 
day  of  judgment  had  come. 

Several  days  later  our  office  building  was  so  greatly  shaken 
by  a  second  earthquake  that  we  quickly  sought  safety  in  the 
street. 

The  newspapers  of  the  day  made  the  following  references 
to  this  exciting  episode : 

The  Mot-ning  Star  of  Wednesday,  September  1,  1886,  in 
its  account  of  the  earthquake,  reports  that  "It  was 
exactly  ten  minutes  to  ten  o'clock  p.  m.,  when  the  first  shock 
occurred.     It  lasted  about  thirty  seconds  and  was  accompa- 


PEACE  RESTORED  497 

nied  by  a  long  rumbling  sound,  like  the  passage  of  a  railway 
train  over  a  bridge.  The  river  seemed  to  be  violently  agi- 
tated, and  washed  against  its  banks  as  if  a  storm  was  raging. 
The  first  shock  was  followed  ten  minutes  afterwards  by  a 
second  shock,  and  this  by  a  third  ten  minutes  later,  neither 
of  them  of  as  great  severity  as  the  first.  It  is  impossible  to 
describe  the  alarm  that  pervaded  the  community.  People 
thronged  the  streets  and  many  of  them  were  greatly  agitated. 
A  great  crowd  centered  around  the  telegraph  office,  anxiously 
inquiring  as  to  news  from  other  places. 

"As  far  as  known,  the  damage  caused  by  the  shock  was 
slight.  Plastering  was  dislodged  and  fell  in  the  Commercial 
Hotel  and  other  houses,  and  bricks  were  shaken  from  chim- 
neys and  from  the  walls  of  buildings  in  the  process  of  erec- 
tion, among  the  number  the  chimney  of  the  house  on  the 
corner  of  Second  and  Princess  Streets." 

The  shock  was  quite  severe  at  other  places.  At  Smithville 
the  Signal  Service  observer  reported  as  follows:  "A  severe 
earthquake  shock  felt  here  at  9  :50  p'.  m.,  lasted  about  ten 
seconds,  came  from  northwest.  Ten  minutes  after  the  first 
shock  another  came  from  the  west,  lasting  about  three 
seconds." 

The  Star  mentioned  the  wide  extent  of  territory  in  which 
the  earthquake  made  itself  evident,  with  varying  degrees  of 
violence  as  far  north  as  ISTew  York  and  west  to  Chicago.  The 
disturbance  was  greatest  at  Charleston,  and  at  Laurinburg 
also  the  shock  was  extremely  severe. 

The  Daily  News  had  a  very  graphic  account  of  the  earth- 
quake, and  enlarged  upon  the  terror  and  awe  of  the  occasion, 
but  differed  slightly  from  the  Star  in  a  few  comments.  The 
first  and  most  violent  shock  was  claimed  to  have  lasted  forty- 
five  seconds,  followed  by  two  more  at  short  intervals,  and 
others  at  one  o'clock,  four  o'clock,  and  eight-thirty  the  next 
morning  (September  1st).  The  Review  of  September  2, 
1886,  reported  shocks  after  the  above,  occurring  at  5  :12  p.  m. 
and  about  midnight  of  the  1st  of  September. 

The  terrible  disaster  to  Charleston  cast  a  deep  gloom  over 


498  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

our  citizens,  and  generous  assistance  was  immediately  or- 
ganized in  the  form  of  a  contribution,  and  a  relief  committee 
composed  of  a  number  of  prominent  people  was  dispatched 
to  the  stricken  city  as  soon  as  the  journey  could  be  made. 

VISITS  OF  THE  CRUISER  RALEIGH  TO  THE 
CAPE  FEAR. 

Soon  after  the  U.  S.  S.  Raleigh  went  into  commission,  in 
1895,  she  came  into  the  lower  Cape  Fear  to  receive  a  service 
of  silver,  which  was  presented  to  her  on  behalf  of  the  State 
by  the  Honorable  Elias  Carr,  then  Governor  of  Il^orth 
Carolina. 

Later,  after  our  war  with  Spain,  about  the  first  of  May, 
1899,  the  Raleigh,  returning  from  the  Philippines,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Coghlan,  again  visited  the  Cape  Fear 
for  the  purpose  of  delivering  to  the  city  of  Raleigh  some 
trophies  of  war,  including  several  Spanish  cannon,  which 
were  formally  received  by  a  delegation  sent  from  Raleigh 
on  behalf  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina. 

The  cruiser  and  her  officers  and  men  were  honored  by  an 
enthusiastic  welcome  to  Wilmington,  and  Captain  Coghlan 
was  deeply  touched  by  his  cordial  reception.  The  Raleigh, 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Coghlan,  had  joined  in  the 
attack  upon  the  Spanish  forts  and  war  vessels  in  Manila  Bay, 
and  our  people,  desiring  to  mark  this  incident  by  a  special 
compliment,  presented  a  very  handsome  and  valuable  service 
of  silver  plate  to  Captain  Coghlan  and  the  ship.  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Calder  made  the  presentation  speech,  and  the  com- 
mander responded  in  a  felicitous  address  which  was  long  re- 
membered by  those  who  were  present. 


PEACE  RESTORED  499 

THE  VISIT  OF  PRESIDENT  TAFT. 

By  Iredell  Mearbs. 

William  Howard  Taft,  the  twenty-seventh  President  of 
the  United  States,  visited  Wilmington  on  the  9th  day  of  No- 
vember, 1909,  The  occasion  was  a  notable  one  in  the  annals 
of  the  city.  The  Governor  of  the  State,  with  his  staff  offi- 
cers, United  States  Senators  and  Congressmen,  the  representa- 
tive editors  of  the  State  press,  and  a  large  concourse  of  visr 
iters  from  all  parts  of  the  State  did  honor  to  the  occasion. 
The  city  was  beautifully  decorated.  The  day  was  ideal  in 
its  sunshine  and  balmy  air.  The  spirit  of  the  people  who 
crowded  the  streets  was  splendid.  Not  an  incident  occurred 
to  mar  the  great  reception. 

On  his  arrival  on  the  early  morning  train,  the  executive 
committee  of  the  citizens'  organization  escorted  the  Presi- 
dent and  his  suite  in  automobiles  from  the  depot  to  the  ele- 
gant residence  of  Mr.  James  Sprunt,  where  a  breakfast  was 
given  in  honor  of  the  President  by  that  hospitable  gentle- 
man and  his  wife.  The  home  was  tastefully  and  appro- 
priately decorated.  The  approaches  to  it  were  guarded  by 
the  United  States  Coast  Artillery  from  Fort  Caswell,  the 
band  of  which,  during  the  breakfast,  played  patriotic  airs. 
Breakfast  was  served  in  the  conservatory,  which  had  been 
transformed  into  an  arbor  of  gTeen  foliage,  with  vines  trail- 
ing overhead,  from  which  hung  clusters  of  real  grapes.  The 
hostess  served  a  breakfast  prepared  in  the  old-fashioned 
Southern  style.  There  were  seated  at  the  table  fifty-two 
guests.  On  the  right  of  Mr.  Sprunt,  the  host,  sat  the  Presi- 
dent, and  on  his  left,  Hon.  W.  W.  Kitchin,  Governor  of  the 
State;  on  the  right  of  the  President,  U.  S.  Senator  Lee  S. 
Overman  was  seated.  Others  of  the  distinguished  g-uests 
were  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State,  Gen.  J.  F.  Armfield, 
and  members  of  the  Governor's  staff ;  Capt.  Archibald  B.  Butt, 
U.  S.  A.,  who  afterwards  lost  his  life  in  the  wreck  of  the 
Titanic;  Lieutenant  Whitney,  of  the  U.  S.  Eevenue  Cutter 
Seminole,  and  Captain  Hancock,  of  the  U.  S.  Coast  Artillery ; 


500  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Eepresentatives  John  H.  Small,  R.  N.  Page,  Charles  R. 
Thomas,  and  H.  L.  Godwin,  all  members  of  the  U.  S.  Con- 
gress ;  and  Hon.  Walter  G.  MacRae,  mayor  of  the  city.  The 
rest  of  the  party  consisted  of  the  Citizens'  Executive  and  Re- 
ception Committees. 

After  breakfast,  the  presidential  party  was  conveyed  under 
the  escort  of  the  local  military  and  the  Naval  Reserves  to  the 
corner  of  Market  and  Third  Streets,  where  all  the  school  chil- 
dren of  the  county  of  New  Hanover  were  assembled  in  a 
most  beautiful  flag  formation,  and  as  the  President,  with 
bared  head,  witnessed  the  scene,  they  sang  the  national  an- 
them. He  was  then  driven  to  St.  Stephen's  Church,  where 
he  reviewed  the  colored  school  children  of  the  county,  and 
made  them  a  short  address.  Next,  he  was  escorted  to  the 
TJ.  S.  Revenue  Cutter  Seminole  for  a  cruise  down  the  Cape 
Fear  as  far  as  Southport.  Accompanying  him  on  the  trip 
were  the  Governor  and  his  military  staff,  the  Senator  and 
Congressmen  mentioned,  Mr.  H.  C.  McQueen,  chairman  of 
the  Citizens'  Executive  Committee,  the  late  Hon.  Alfred  M. 
Waddell,  ex-Member  of  Congress,  and  a  large  number  of 
representative  editors  of  the  State  press  and  citizens  of  Wil- 
mington. Luncheon  was  served  on  the  boat,  and  the  Presi- 
dent held  an  informal  levee. 

On  the  return,  the  Semifiole  was  met  at  the  Dram  Tree, 
the  entrance  to  the  harbor,  by  all  the  river  craft  and  steamers 
in  port,  with  colors  flying,  and,  formed  in  parade  line,  the 
picturesque  fleet  preceded  the  Seminole  to  the  dock.  On 
landing,  a  procession  was  formed  consisting  of  the  U.  S.  Coast 
Artillery,  detachments  from  the  Revenue  Cutter,  and  com- 
panies of  the  State  Guard  and  Naval  Reserves,  including  a 
detachment  of  Confederate  veterans  and  some  twenty-odd 
different  organizations  of  the  city.  The  President  was  then 
escorted  to  the  City  Hall  Square,  where  from  a  platform  he 
reviewed  the  military  parade  of  Federal  and  State  troops  and 
the  citizens'  organizations.  He  was  introduced  to  the  vast 
audience,  estimated  from  fifteen  to  twenty  thousand  people, 
by  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Kitchin,  the  Governor,  in  cordial  and 
spirited  remarks,  and  delivered  a  notable  address  to  the  peo- 


PEACE  RESTORED  501 

pie.  After  a  rest  in  the  afternoon,  a  banquet  was  served  to 
the  President  in  the  Masonic  Temple  Hall,  at  which  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  the  city  and  State  were  present.  The 
menu  was  prepared  and  served  under  the  immediate  super- 
vision of  the  ladies'  committee,  and  in  all  respects  could  not 
have  been  excelled.  The  President  made  a  short  address 
after  the  dinner,  and  then  repaired  to  his  private  car  at  the 
depot  and  proceeded  to  Richmond,  at  which  place  he  ended 
the  tour  he  had  made  of  the  Western  and  Southern  States. 
On  the  same  evening,  at  the  Chamber  of  Cormnerce,  there 
was  given  a  "smoker"  to  visiting  members  of  the  press,  at 
which  many  fine  and  eloquent  speeches  were  made,  and  this 
constituted  one  of  the  conspicuous  entertainments  of  the  occa- 
sion. The  local  papers  of  the  city  and  State  printed  elabo- 
rate accounts  of  the  reception  and  illustrated  cuts  of  the 
scenes  which  featured  the  doings  of  the  day. 


WOODROW  WILSOI^'S  YOUTH  AT  WILMINGTOK^ 

In  the  autumn  of  1873,  when  Woodrow  Wilson  was  just 
reaching  his  seventeenth  year,  and  while  his  parents  were  re- 
siding at  Columbia,  he  entered  Davidson  College.  He  did 
not,  however,  finish  the  year,  for  he  fell  ill  just  before  the 
examinations  came  on  and  was  taken  to  his  home,  then  in 
Wilmington,  his  father  having  just  been  called  to  the  pastor- 
ate of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  city.  He  remained 
in  Wilmington  throughout  the  year  1874-5.  It  had  been 
determined  that  he  should  not  return  to  Davidson,  but  should 
go  to  Princeton,  and  he  spent  the  year  being  tutored  in  Greek 
and  a  few  other  studies,  which  it  was  thought  might  be  neces^ 
sary  for  entrance  to  Princeton. 

In  truth  there  was  a  good  deal  of  play  done  that  year,  too. 
The  boy  had  grown  too  fast,  and  was  hardly  fit  for  the  rigid 
schedule  of  college.  So  he  "took  it  easy"  in  a  city,  the  first 
he  had  ever  lived  in  that  possessed  any  particular  local  charm. 
Wilmington  was  an  old  historic  place.  It  was  a  seaport; 
for  the  first  time  Woodrow  saw  a  ship  and  caught  the  smell 
^Based  on  Hale's  Life  of  Woodrow  Wilson. 


502  CAPE  FEAB  CHRONICLES 

of  the  sea.  Foreign  shipping  floated  in  the  noble  river  or 
lay  at  the  docks.  Wilmington  was  a  great  depot  for  naval 
stores;  its  lower  streets  were  redolent  of  the  deep.  Talk  was 
still  full  of  the  adventures  of  the  blockade  runners  of  the  war 
late  ended,  Wilmington  having  been  a  favorite  port  of  the 
desperate  men  and  swift  ships  that  then  made  so  many  gal- 
lant chapters  of  sea  history.  What  imaginative  youth  from 
the  interior  but  would  have  haunted  the  docks  and  made  an 
occasional  trip  down  to  the  Cape,  to  return  with  the  pilot  of 
an  outgoing  ship  ?  Here,  too,  for  the  first  time,  the  young 
man  began  to  take  part  in  the  social  life  which  is  so  impor- 
tant an  element  of  existence  in  the  South.  He  was  really  too 
young  for  the  associations  into  which  he  was  now  thrown,  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  Wilson  immediately  achieving  devoted  popularity, 
the  parsonage  swiftly  becoming  a  social  rendezvous  of  the 
city — a  city  of  gentlemen  of  good  company  and  women  who 
would  have  been  esteemed  brilliant  the  world  over.  It  was 
a  young  man  very  different  from  the  raw  youth  of  Davidson, 
who,  one  day  in  September,  1875,  took  the  Wilmington  and 
Wei  don  train  for  the  ISTorth. 

During  his  senior  year  at  Princeton  he  concluded  that  the 
best  path  to  a  public  career  lay  through  the  law.  In  the 
autumn,  therefore,  he  matriculated  in  the  law  department  of 
the  University  of  Virginia,  that  seat  of  liberal  learning  or- 
ganized by  Thomas  Jefferson. 

Just  before  Christmas,  1880,  he  returned  to  Wilmington, 
and  devoted  himself  to  reading  law  and  otherwise  preparing 
himself  for  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  It  was 
not  till  May,  1882,  that  he  finally  determined  where  to 
locate,  and  then  he  opened  an  office  in  Atlanta.  His  father 
continued  to  reside  in  Wilmington  until  x\pril,  1885,  when 
he  accepted  the  position  of  professor  of  theology  in  the  South- 
western University  at  Clarksville,  Tennessee.  In  the  fall 
of  1898,  Dr.  Wilson  made  Wilmington  his  winter  home  until 
his  death,  January  21,  1903.  In  1905  a  tablet  was  unveiled 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  as  a  memorial  of  the  "Faithful 
and  Beloved  Pastor  of  This  Church." 


PEACE  RESTORED  503 


SOUTHPOET  ON  THE  CAPE  FEAK. 

THs  charming  little  town  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Pear 
Eiver  was  known  in  Colonial  days  as  Port  Johnston.  It 
was  a  mere  hamlet  then,  and  its  only  importance  pertained 
to  the  garrison  of  a  fort,  which  mounted  twenty-four  cannon, 
named  in  honor  of  Colonial  Governor  Gabriel  Johnston.  In 
1792  it  was  laid  off  as  a  town,  and  called  Smithville,  in  honor 
of  Governor  Benjamin  Smith,  and  it  retained  that  name 
until  1887,  when  it  began  to  be  called  Southport  Southport 
has  been  the  home  of  most  of  the  Cape  Pear  pilots  for  nearly 
a  hundred  years.  Its  salubrious  climate  and  kindly  inhabi- 
tants make  it  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  wholesome  win- 
ter and  summer  resorts  in  our  country.  Its  harbor  is  spacious 
and  its  deep  water  would  float  the  largest  battleship  of  our 
JSTavy.  Its  possible  importance  as  a  coaling  station  for  steam- 
ers from  the  South  outward  bound,  and  its  prospective  use- 
fulness to  the  Panama  Canal  traffic  in  that  respect,  is  attract- 
ing attention  to  it  as  a  convenient  port  of  call. 

Of  this  interesting  town  our  venerable  ex-President  of  the 
University  of  ISTorth  Carolina,  Hon.  Kemp  P.  Battle,  has 
said: 

"Near  the  mouth  of  the  beautiful  Cape  Fear  River,  on  its 
right  bank,  is  a  pleasant  little  town.  It  is  fanned  by  the 
delicious  sea  breezes;  huge  live  oaks  gratefully  shade  its 
streets.  In  its  sombre  cemetery  repose  the  bodies  of  many 
excellent  people.  Its  harbor  is  good.  It  is  on  the  main 
channel  of  the  river.  From  its  wharves  can  be  seen  not  far 
away  the  thin  white  line  of  waves  as  they  break  on  the  sandy 
beach.  But  the  ships  to  and  from  its  neighbor,  Wilmington, 
pay  little  tribute  as  they  pass  and  repass.  Its  chief  fame  is 
that  it  contains  the  courthouse  of  the  county  of  Brunswick. 
Its  name  is  Smithville. 

"Opposite  the  good  old  town  is  a  desert  island  composed 
of  undulating  sandhills,  with  here  and  there  occasional  green 
flats  and  dwarfed  pines  to  relieve  the  general  monotony.  It  is 
exposed  to  the  full  fury  of  the  Atlantic  storms.  New  Inlet 
once  poured  a  rapid  stream  between  the  island  and  the  main- 


504  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

land.  But  daring  and  industrious  man  now  seeks  to  force 
by  walls  of  stone  the  impetuous  floods  through,  the  river 
channel  to  the  west,  to  float  larger  ships  up  the  river  to  the 
port  of  Wilmington.  Its  southern  end  forms  the  dangerous 
cape  which  Mr.  George  Davis  so  eloquently  describes. 

''The  University  of  North  Carolina  has  amid  its  gToup  of 
buildings  one  in  its  shape  and  portico  and  columns  imitating 
a  Greek  temple.  Its  basement  was  until  recently  the  home 
of  the  State  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  which  has 
done  so  much  to  protect  our  farmers  from  fraud,  but  now  it 
is  the  laboratory  of  the  professor  of  chemistry.  Above  is  a 
long  and  lofty  room  containing  the  library  of  the  University. 
On  its  shelves  are  many  ancient  books  of  great  value,  but 
vacant  spaces  plead  piteously  for  new  books  in  aU  the  depart- 
ments of  literature  and  science.  The  name  of  this  building 
is  'Smith  Hall.' 

"What  member  of  the  ^videly  spread  family  of  Smith  has 
thus  given  his  familiar  name  to  a  county  town,  an  island,  and 
a  University  hall  ?  His  Christian  name  was  Benjamin.  He 
was  an  active  ojfficer  of  the  Revolution,  a  Governor  of  our 
State,  and  the  first  benefactor  of  the  University. 

"Governor  Smith  had  many  vicissitudes  of  fortune.  In 
his  youth  he  was  aide-de-camp  to  Washington  in  the  danger- 
ous but  masterly  retreat  from  Long  Island  after  the  defeat 
of  the  American  forces.  He  behaved  with  conspicuous  gal- 
lantry in  the  brilliant  action  in  which  Moultrie  drove  the 
British  from  Port  Royal  Island  and  checked  for  a  time  the 
invasion  of  South  Carolina.  A  Charleston  paper  of  1794 
says :  'He  gave  on  many  occasions  such  various  proof  of 
activity  and  distinguished  bravery  as  to  merit  the  approba- 
tion of  his  impartial  country.'  After  the  strong  Union  super- 
seded the  nerveless  Continental  Confederation,  when  there 
was  danger  of  war  with  France  or  England,  he  was  made 
general  of  militia,  and  when  later,  on  account  of  the  insults 
and  injuries  of  France,  our  Government  made  preparations 
for  active  hostilities,  the  entire  militia  of  Brunswick  County, 
officers  and  men,  roused  to  enthusiasm  by  an  address  from 
him  full  of  energy  and  fire,  volunteered  to  follow  his  lead  in 


PEACE  RESTORED  505 

the  legionary  corps  raised  for  sei-vice  against  the  enemy. 
The  confidence  of  his  countrymen  in  his  wisdom  and  integ- 
rity was  shown  by  their  electing  him  fifteen  times  to  the 
Senate  of  the  State.  From  this  post  he  was  chosen  by  the 
General  Assembly  as  our  Chief  Executive  in  1810,  when  war 
with  England  was  constantly  expected,  and  by  large  numbers 
earnestly  desired, 

''The  charter  of  the  University  was  granted  in  1789.  The 
trustees  were  the  great  men  of  that  day — the  leaders  in  war 
and  peace.  Of  this  band  of  eminent  men  Benjamin  Smith 
was  a  worthy  member.  He  is  entitled  to  the  signal  honor  of 
being  the  first  benefactor  of  the  infant  institution,  the  leader 
of  the  small  corps  of  liberal  supporters  of  education  in  ISTorth 
Carolina.  For  that  reason  alone  his  name  should  be  revered 
by  all  the  long  line  of  students  who  call  the  University  their 
Alma  Mater  and  by  every  one  who  desires  the  enlightenment 
of  our  people." 

The  communication  between  Southport  and  Wilmington 
in  olden  times  was  by  a  sloop  which  carried  passengers  and 
probably  the  U.  S.  mails.  The  daily  schedule  was  protected 
by  the  sa\dng  clause  "wind  and  weather  permitting."  Within 
the  memory  of  our  citizens  in  middle  life,  not  to  say  of  old  age, 
the  daily  steamers  to  and  from  Charleston,  already  referred 
to,  afforded  the  passengers  at  Smithville  and  at  Wilmington, 
and  also  the  planters  along  the  river,  who  boarded  them  from 
small  boats,  comfortable  and  speedy  service.  Later,  on  the 
completion  of  the  Wilmington  and  Manchester  Railroad,  the 
steamer  Spray  plied  regularly ;  but  none  of  these  conveyances 
were  more  satisfactory  to  the  general  public  than  the  steamer 
Wilmington,  owned  and  commanded  by  Capt.  John  W. 
Harper,  who,  after  many  years  of  excellent  service,  still  con- 
trols and  regulates  the  river  trade  and  traffic. 

The  new  railroad  between  Wilmington  and  Southport, 
called  the  Wilmington,  Brunswick,  and  Southport  Railroad, 
runs  a  daily  passenger,  mail,  and  freight  schedule  between 
Southport  and  :N"avassa,  where  it  connects  with  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  and  with  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  Railroad  for 
Wilmington  or  for  other  points  on  these  trunk  lines. 


506  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

This  railroad  is  thirty  miles  long,  and- was*  completed  in 
1911.  The  capital  stock  is  $165,000.  Its  officers  are :  Presi- 
dent, M.  J.  Corbett;  Vice-president,  H.  C.  McQueen;  Gen- 
eral Manager,  M.  W.  Divine,  and  Traffic  Manager,  H.  E. 
Goodwin. 

In  view  of  the  opening  of  the  Panama  Canal  and  of  the 
manifest  destiny  that  the  United  States  will  have  closer  com- 
mercial relations  with  the  countries  of  South  America,  whose 
development  is  now  progressing  with  such  rapid  strides,  the 
admirable  location  of  Southport  for  a  Government  coaling 
station  is  apparent,  and  it  vdll  surely  become  a  commercial 
entrepot  of  importance.  Business  is  quick  to  avail  itself  of 
superior  advantages,  and  the  facilities  offered  by  Southport 
are  unrivaled.  Its  landlocked  harbor,  ranging  from  thirty- 
five  to  forty-nine  feet  in  depth,  and  five  miles  long,  with  a 
width  varying  from  one-quarter  to  three-quarters  of  a  mile, 
affords  a  commodious  and  secure  anchorage  for  the  fleets  of 
commerce  and  the  navies  of  war,  while  the  frowning  ram- 
parts of  Port  Caswell  assure  ample  military  protection.  Its 
bar  is  almost  perfectly  protected  from  the  heaviest  gales  and 
for  twenty-five  years  the  hurricane  signals  have  been  hoisted 
at  Southport  only  twice,  and  no  hurricane  wave  can  possibly 
enter  the  port.     Safety  of  all  shipping  is  thus  assured. 

While  possessing  these  advantages,  Southport  enjoys  the 
distinction  of  being  on  the  direct  line  between  the  vast  coal 
fields  of  the  interior  and  the  points  where  the  coal  will  be 
wanted — Colon  and  Guantanamo  Bay.  It  is  as  near  Pana- 
ma as  Charleston,  and  being  south  of  Hatteras,  has  evident 
advantages  over  Norfolk.  ISTo  other  Atlantic  port  is  so  near 
to  the  ports  of  the  Caribbean  Sea  or  to  the  ports  on  the  east 
coast  of  South  America.  Its  climate  is  remarkably  fine;  it 
has  a  constant  sea  breeze  and  fogs  are  almost  unknowm.  Its 
temperature  is  free  from  extremes.  Por  twenty-nine  years 
the  mean  temperature  during  the  months  of  June,  July,  and 
August  has  been  79  degrees,  and  for  December,  January,  and 
Pebruary  it  has  been  44.8.     And  its  water  supply  is  excellent. 

Located  upon  the  system  of  inland  waterways  now  in  pro- 
cess of  .construction,  and  connected  with  the  great  southern 


PEACE  RESTORED  507 

railway  lines,  it  has  every  facility  for  commerce,  and,  di- 
rectly connected  with  the  vast  coal  fields,  it  offers  advantages 
for  a  Government  coaling  station  second  to  no  other  port  on 
the  coast.  

FORT  CASWELL. 

The  work  at  Fort  Caswell  at  the  month  of  the  Cape  Fear 
Eiver  was  commenced  by  the  Government  in  the  year  1826. 
Maj.  George  Blaney,  of  the  United  States  Engineer  Corps, 
was  in  charge  of  it  for  several  years  until  his  death  at  Smith- 
ville  in  1836  or  1837.  He  was  bom  in  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, and  was  an  accomplished  officer.  His  remains  were 
brought  to  Wilmington,  and  the  Wilmington  Volunteers,  a 
uniformed  company  and  the  only  one  then  existing  in  the 
town,  formed  at  the  Market  dock  to  receive  them,  and  escorted 
them  to  the  old  burial  ground  adjoining  St.  James'  Church, 
where  they  were  interred  with  military  honors  and  where 
they  still  repose. 

Major  Blaney's  assistant  in  building  the  fort  was  Mr. 
James  Ancrum  Berry,  a  native  of  Wilmington,  a  natural  engi- 
neer, the  bent  of  whose  mind  was  strongly  mathematical.  He 
was  thoroughly  competent  for  the  position  he  held,  and  took 
great  pride  in  the  work — so  much  so,  indeed,  that  he  had  a 
small  house  erected  on  the  river  front  of  the  fort  and  resided 
there  with  his  family  for  a  year  or  two  until  the  encroaching 
waters  rendered  his  habitation  untenable,  when  he  returned 
to  Smith ville.  He  died  suddenly  in  1832.  He  was  hunting 
with  the  late  Mr.  John  Brown,  and,  while  crossing  a  small 
stream  on  a  log,  he  lost  his  footing  and  his  gun  came  in  con- 
ta;ct  with  the  log  and  was  discharged,  the  contents  entering 
his  brain,  killing  him  almost  instantly.  He  was  an  honor- 
able gentleman,  high-toned  and  chivalric,  and  was  greatly 
mourned. 

It  is  probable  that  Capt.  A.  J.  Swift,  son  of  the  distin- 
guished Chief  of  the  Engineer  Corps,  Gen.  Joseph  Swift,  suc- 
ceeded Major  Blaney.  It  is  known  that  he  had  charge  of 
the  works  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  for  quite  a  long  time,  and 
it  is  believed  they  were  finished  under  his  supervision. 


608  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Captain  Swift  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  ablest  engineer 
officers  in  the  army,  and,  though  dying  quite  young,  left  be- 
hind him  a  reputation  second  to  none  in  that  branch  of  the 
service. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that,  notwithstanding  its  exposed 
position  to  the  Federal  fleet,  no  general  engagement  occurred 
at  Fort  Caswell  during  the  four  years'  war.  The  fort  was  of 
gTeat  service,  however,  in  defending  the  main  bar  and  the 
garrison  at  Smithville,  although  the  fighting  was  confined 
to  an  occasional  artillery  duel  with  the  United  States  block- 
ading fleet. 

The  defenses  of  Oak  Island  during  the  War  between  the 
States  were  composed  of  Forts  Caswell  and  Campbell,  the 
latter  a  large  earth  fort  situated  about  one  mile  down  the 
beach  from  Fort  Caswell,  and  Battery  Shaw,  with  some 
other  small  works,  all  at  the  close  of  the  war  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  Charles  H.  Simonton.  With  Colonel  Simon- 
ton  were  the  following  members  of  his  staff:  Capt  E.  S. 
Martin,  chief  of  ordnance  and  artillery;  Capt.  Booker 
Jones,  commissary;  Capt.  H.  C.  Whiting,  quartermaster, 
and  Captain  Booker,  assistant  adjutant  general. 

Fort  Fisher  fell  about  nine  o'clock  Sunday  night,  January 
15,  1865 ;  and  by  midnight  orders  had  been  received  at  Fort 
Caswell  to  send  the  garrisons  of  that  fort  and  Fort  Camp- 
bell down  the  beach  and  into  the  woods  before  daylight  in 
order  to  conceal  them  from  the  Federal  fleet.  The  troops 
were  immediately  withdrawn  from  the  forts,  and  under 
cover  of  darkness  marched  away.  Orders  were  also  received 
to  spike  the  guns  in  those  two  forts  and  destroy  the  ammuni- 
tion as  far  as  possible.  Accordingly,  during  Monday,  the 
16th  of  January,  the  chief  of  ordnance  and  artillery,  Capt. 
E.  S.  Martin,  was  employed  with  the  ordnance  force  of  the 
forts  in  carrying  out  this  order,  preparing  to  bum  the  bar- 
racks— large  wooden  structures  built  oiitside  and  around 
Fort  Caswell — and  to  blow  up  the  magazines. 

About  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Tuesday,  January 
lYth,  the  order  came  to  evacuate  and  blow  up  the  magazines. 
Thereupon  Col.  C.  H.  Simonton,  Lieut.  Col.  John  D.  Taylor, 


PEACE  RESTORED  509 

and  Capt.  Booker  Jones,  who  had  remained  up  to  this  time, 
departed,  leaving  Captain  Martin  to  destroy  the  barracks 
and  forts.  The  buildings  without  the  fort  and  the  citadel 
within  were  at  once  set  on  fire  and  were  soon  blazing  from 
top  to  bottom.  Trains  had  been  laid  during  the  day  to  each 
of  the  seven  magazines  at  Fort  Caswell  and  the  five  maga- 
zines at  Fort  Campbell,  and  under  the  lurid  glare  of  the 
burning  buildings  the  match  was  applied  to  the  trains,  and 
magazine  after  magazine  exploded  with  terrific  report.  One 
of  the  magazines  in  Fort  Caswell  contained  nearly  one  hun- 
dred thousand  pounds  of  powder,  and  when  it  exploded  the 
volume  of  sound  seemed  to  rend  the  very  heavens,  while  the 
earth  trembled,  the  violence  of  the  shock  being  felt  in  Wil- 
mington, thirty  miles  distant,  and  even  at  Fayetteville,  more 
than  one  hundred  miles  away.  The  sight  was  grand  beyond 
description.  Amidst  this  sublime  and  impressive  scene  the 
flag  of  Fort  Caswell  was  for  the  last  time  hauled  down.  It 
was  carried  away  by  Captain  Martin,  who,  with  his  men, 
silently  departed,  the  last  to  leave  the  old  fort,  which  for  four 
long  years  of  war  had  so  effectively  guarded  the  main  entrance 
to  the  river. 

In  reply  to  my  request  through  Senator  Overman  for  par- 
ticulars of  the  present  defenses  at  Fort  Caswell,  which  has 
been  made  one  of  the  most  important  military  posts  on  our 
coast,  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  says : 

"Fort  Caswell  is  situated  in  Brunswick  County,  North 
Carolina,  about  two  miles  from  Southport  and  twenty-two 
miles  from  Wilmington.  The  military  reservation  includes 
Oak  Island  and  contains  an  area  of  2,325  acres.  It  is  the 
headquarters  of  the  coast  defenses  of  the  Cape  Fear,  and  is 
garrisoned  by  three  companies  of  the  Coast  Artillery  Corps. 
It  is  commanded  by  Col.  Charles  A.  Bennett,  Coast  Artillery 
Corps. 

"The  armament  of  the  post  consists  of  mortars,  direct  and 
rapid-fire  guns,  and  includes  a  mine  defense. 

"The  batteries  have  been  named  in  honor  of  Richard  Cas- 
well, a  distingaiished  member  of  the  Continental  Congress, 
an  officer  of  the  Revolutionary  Army,  and  first  Governor  of 


510  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  State  of  ISTorth  Carolina;  of  the  late  Capt.  Alexander  J. 
Swift,  Corps  of  Engineers,  who  was  employed  upon  the  con- 
struction of  Fort  Caswell,  and  who  died  of  disease  contracted 
in  the  field  during  the  Mexican  War;  of  the  late  Ensign 
Worth  Bagley,  United  States  N^avy,  of  ISTorth  Carolina, 
killed  in  action  at  Cardenas,  Cuba,  May  11,  1898  ;  of  the  late 
First  Lieut.  William  E.  Shipp,  Tenth  Cavalry,  killed  at  the 
battle  of  San  Juan,  Cuba;  of  Surgeon  William  S.  Madison, 
Third  United  States  Infantry,  who  was  killed  May  14,  1821, 
in  action  with  the  Indians  near  Fort  Howard,  Wisconsin ;  of 
First  Lieut.  Patrick  McDonough,  Corps  of  Artillery,  United 
States  Army,  who  was  killed  August  15,  1814,  at  the  battle 
of  Fort  Erie,  Canada;  and  of  Capt.  Henry  McKavett, 
Eighth  United  States  Infantry,  who  was  killed  September  21, 
1846,  at  the  battle  of  Monterey,  Mexico." 


THE  COASTAL  CANAL. 

A  great  coastal  canal  system  which  will  ultimately  connect 
Boston  with  the  Rio  Grrande  entirely  through  inland  waters 
is  of  importance  to  the  commerce  of  the  Cape  Fear  Kiver, 
as  it  is  to  all  the  seaboard  of  the  Union.  Such  a  project  has 
received  the  approval  of  many  of  the  most  thoughtful  states- 
men of  the  country,  and  a  beginning  has  already  been  made 
towards  its  accomplishment.  The  Cape  Cod.  Canal,  con- 
structed by  private  means,  is  already  finished,  and  it  short- 
ens the  distance  by  water  from  Boston  to  ISTew  York  seventy 
miles,  while  it  eliminates  many  of  the  dangers  of  the  old 
route.  The  Government  has  determined  to  secure  possesr 
sion  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Delaware  Canal  with  the  purpose 
of  converting  it  into  a  ship  canal  connecting  the  two  great 
bays.  A  Government  ship  canal  has  been  opened  from  I^^or- 
folk  to  Beaufort,  and  at  various  points  along  the  coast  canals 
are  either  in  course  of  construction  or  have  been  surveyed  by 
the  Board  of  Engineers  and  recommended  to  Congress  for  con- 
struction. 

The  link  from  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver  to  the  northward,  it 
was  hoped,  might  start  above  Wilmington,  but  the  surveys 


PEACE  RESTORED  511 

showed  difEcnlties  that  were  avoided  by  a  sea-level  canal 
through  the  sounds,  reaching  the  river  by  Telford's  Creek. 

E.  A.  Parsley,  J.  A.  Taylor,  Hugh  MacKae,  and  M.  W. 
Divine,  among  others,  have  been  active  and  prominent  in 
presenting  the  arguments  in  favor  of  the  construction  of 
the  link  from  the  Cape  Fear  River ;  and  we  can  reasonably 
expect  that  at  no  distant  day  this  important  aid  to  the  com- 
merce of  Wilmington  will  be  determined  upon  by  the  Federal 
Government,  and  when  opened  its  advantages  will  be  of  im- 
mense benefit  to  the  city. 

While  the  Senators  and  Eepresentatives  in  Congress  from 
the  State,  especially  the  members  from  this  section,  have  been 
keenly  alive  to  the  advantages  that  will  accrue  from  the  con- 
struction of  this  inland  waterway,  the  work  of  Hon.  John  H. 
Small,  the  member  from  the  first  district,  has  been  of  un- 
excelled importance.  He  has  indeed  been  the  genius  and 
guardian  spirit  of  the  inland  waterway  improvement  from 
its  inception,  and  he  is  entitled  to  first  distinction  in  the  ac- 
knowledgments of  all  patriotic  people  who  recognize  public 
service  unselfishly  and  effectively  rendered.  He  piloted  the 
project  through  the  shoals  and  snags  of  increasing  and  in- 
numerable difiiculties  with  untiring  zeal  and  discretion,  and 
this  tribute  is  paid  with  a  grateful  sense  of  appreciation  and 
admiration.  He  conceived  a  project  national  in  scope,  and 
has  been  actuated  by  no  considerations  of  local  advantage; 
his  honors  will  grow  with  the  progress  of  the  work  until  his 
name  will  be  known  and  his  worth  recognized  from  the  ISTorth 
Atlantic  to  the  Gulf. 


512  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

THE  CITY  AND  PORT  OF  WILMIXGTON. 

The  development  of  the  port  and  city  of  Wilmington 
during  the  last  decade  has  been  in  line  with  the  general 
progress  of  the  coimtry  at  large,  and  perhaps  somewhat  ahead 
of  it.  The  improvement  of  the  streets  and  the  building  of 
tall  structures  along  the  principal  thoroughfares  denote  a 
new  era  for  the  old  Colonial  town,  which  emerged  so  slowly 
from  the  shadows  of  the  War  between  the  States. 

Prior  to  the  year  1877,  the  city  of  Wilming-ton  had  been 
for  years  governed  by  a  Board  of  Commissioners  or  a  Board 
of  Aldermen,  elected  by  the  people.  In  the  year  1877,  for 
financially  important  reasons,  the  General  Assembly  provided 
for  a  Board  of  Audit  and  Finance,  to  be  appointed  by  the 
Governor,  giving  the  body  so  named  and  constituted  almost 
exclusive  control  of  the  revenue  and  expenditures  of  the  city. 
Under  this  dual  system,  which  worked  with  very  little  fric- 
tion, and  always  in  the  line  of  economy,  the  affairs  of  the 
city  were  managed  until  1907,  when  in  authorizing  an  issue 
of  $900,000  in  bonds  for  water  and  sewerage  and  for  street 
improvement,  the  General  Assembly  established  two  addi- 
tional boards,  a  Water  and  Sewerage  Commission  and  a  Street 
Commission.  In  1909  still  another  was  added,  a  Police  and 
Fire  Commission.  Under  this  state  of  affairs  there  were 
four  separately  constituted  boards  managing  different  de- 
partments of  the  municipality,  with  resulting  clash  of  author- 
ity and  responsibility.  Over  them  all,  the  Board  of  Audit 
and  Finance  held  control  of  the  purse  strings. 

The  inconvenience  of  transacting  business  with  so  many 
departments  managing  the  affairs  of  the  city  without  co- 
ordination, and  naturally  therefore  with  lack  of  economy, 
became  so  apparent  that  at  an  election,  when  the  question 
was  submitted,  the  people  almost  unanimously  adopted  the 
commission  form  of  government.  In  1911,  a  council  of 
five  members  superseded  all  of  the  boards  previously  existing, 
and  for  nearly  three  years  the  city  has  been  under  this  form 
of  government.     Although  some  good  has  been  accomplished 


PEACE  RESTORED  513 

by  simplifying  governmental  methods,  much  more  might  be 
done,  it  is  believed,  by  the  employment  of  a  municipal  man- 
ager, as  is  being  done  in  some  other  cities,  and  by  following 
more  closely  the  methods  adopted  by  business  corporations. 

The  commission  form  of  municipal  government  has  not 
proved  a  success  except  in  cases  where  notorious  graft  pre- 
vailed, and  the  tendency  of  municipal  reform  seems  to  be  upon 
the  lines  adopted  successfully  by  the  Germans  of  having 
trained  managers  and  concentrated  control.  As  Price  Collier 
says :  "Ko  state  can  make  men.  N"o  state  can  produce  wealth 
and  worth.  These  three — men,  and  wealth,  and  worth — are 
produced,  and  produced  only,  where  men  measure  themselves 
against  men  for  the  mastery  over  the  fruits  of  the  earth, 
without  adventitious  aids  of  any  kind,  and  under  the  protec- 
tion of  laws  that  all  make  and  all  obey.  Our  mistakes  and 
our  political  troubles  have  mostly  arisen  from  a  wrong  inter- 
pretation of  'government  by  the  people.'  It  has  never  meant, 
and  can  never  be  successful  when  it  is  interpreted  as  meaning, 
that  each  individual  shall  take  an  active  part  in  government. 
This  is  the  catch-penny  doctrine  preached  from  the  platform 
by  the  demagogue.  The  real  spirit  of  'government  by  the 
people'  is  merely  that  they  should  at  all  times  have  control, 
and  keep  control,  of  their  governors. 

"It  is  only  in  politics  that  we  grope  blindly  amongst  primi- 
tive methods  for  a  solution  of  the  problems  of  government. 
It  must  be  a  poor  race  which  can  not  throw  up  from  the  mass 
of  men  a  certain  number  whose  wealth,  leisure,  and  ability 
fit  them  for  the  work  of  governing;  just  as  others  amongst  us 
are  best  fitted  to  bake,  or  brew,  or  teach,  or  preach,  or  make 
clothes  or  hats,  or  to  dig  in  the  fields.  To  say  that  every 
man  is  fitted  to  govern  is  to  hark  back  to  the  days  when  every 
man  was  his  own  huntsman,  fisherman,  cook,  and  tailor. 
We  have  millions  in  America  who  are  just  learning  the  alpha- 
bet of  free  government,  and  they  are  still  flattered  by  politi- 
cal parasites  with  loud  voices  and  leather  larynxes.  Our  par- 
liaments and  assemblies  have  too  large  a  proportion,  not  of 
the  brawn  and  brains  that  have  made  America  a  great  nation 
in  fifty  years,  but  the  semi-successful,  the  slippery  and  re- 


514  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

sourceful  who  live  on  the  people,  and  by  the  people,  and  for 
themselves. 

"He  is  but  a  mean  American  who  believes  that  this  will 
last.  The  time  approaches  when  Americans  will  slough  off 
this  hampering  political  clothing,  and  insist  upon  being  gov- 
erned by  the  best  amongst  them,  by  the  wisest  amongst  them, 
by  the  successful  amongst  them,  and  not  by  those  whose  living 
is  derived  by  governing  others  because  they  can  not  govern 
themselves.  It  is  not  because  we  are  fools  that  the  present 
condition  continues,  it  is  because  we  are  weighed  down  with 
the  responsibilities  of  nation-making.  We  have  succeeded 
commercially  and  in  all  material  ways  marvelously.  In  fifty 
years  we  have  become  the  rival  of  the  strongest,  and  the  com- 
mercial portent  to  which  every  finger  in  Europe  points.  Let 
this  same  energy  be  turned  upon  setting  our  local  politics 
in  order  and  the  change  in  government  will  be  as  complete, 
and  come  as  quickly,  as  in  other  matters.  We  have  allowed 
our  idlers  to  govern,  with  a  splendid  honor  roll  of  exceptions; 
we  shall  ere  long  insist  that  our  ablest  shall  take  their  places 
in  the  good  old  Saxon  way." 

Arthur  J.  Brinton,  in  the  Dispatch,  says :  "When  James 
Bryce,  late  British  Ambassador  to  the  United  States,  a  keen, 
acute,  and  brilliant  observer  of  American  affairs,  wrote  a 
quarter  of  a  century  ago  that  the  Americans  knew  how  to  do 
some  things  well,  but  did  not  know  how  to  run  their  city  gov- 
ernments, the  observation  hurt.  Here  is  Mr.  Bryce's  exact 
language:  ^There  is  no  denying  that  the  government  of 
cities  is  the  one  conspicuous  failure  of  the  United  States. 
The  deficiencies  of  the  ^NTational  Government  tell  but  little 
for  evil  on  the  welfare  of  the  people.  The  faults  of  the  State 
governments  are  insignificant  compared  with  the  extrava- 
gance, corruption,  and  mismanagement  which  mark  the  ad- 
ministration of  most  of  the  great  cities.  There  is  not  a  city 
with  a  population  exceeding  two  hundred  thousand  where 
the  poison  germs  have  not  sprung  into  a  vigorous  life.  In 
some  of  the  smaller  ones,  down  to  seventy  thousand,  it  needs 
no  microscope  to  note  the  results  of  their  growth.' 

"Such  criticism  stung.  American  cities,  feeling  the  wound, 


PEACE  RESTORED  515 

have  sought  a  soothing  salve  for  their  hurt  feelings  in  revo- 
lutionizing the  form  of  their  city  governments.  Mayors  have 
served  them  ill ;  municipal  officials  have  been  corrupt.  Away 
with  them!  L-et  us  get  our  city  governments  on  a  business 
basis ;  let  us  run  them  as  we  run  our  private  business ! 

"The  latest  development  of  the  reform  movement  in  Ameri- 
can cities  is  the  municipal-manager  idea.  The  manager  is 
not  a  mayor,  in  that  he  is  not  elected  but  appointed,  but  he 
has  all  of  the  powers  of  a  mayor.  His  business,  as  his  title 
implies,  is  to  'run'  a  city,  to  manage  it,  to  get  from  the 
expenditure  of  money  which  it  necessarily  makes  the  best 
possible  results.  Logically,  the  city-manager  idea  is  an  out- 
come of  the  now  familiar  commission-government  scheme. 
By  the  latter  the  government  of  a  city  is  entrusted  into  the 
hands  of  a  board  of  elected  officials. 

"The  usual  form  of  commission  government  provides  for 
the  election  of  a  certain  number  of  commissioners  from  the 
city  at  large,  who,  in  turn,  elect  one  of  their  number  to  act 
as  mayor  and  who  divide  with  one  another  the  administra- 
tion of  the  city  departments.  One  commissioner  may  take 
charge  of  the  police  department,  another  of  the  fire  depart- 
ment, a  third  of  the  health  department,  and  so  on.  Having 
a  limited  number  of  members  of  the  commission,  usually 
only  five,  has  been  the  customary  practice,  in  order  to  con- 
centrate responsibility  of  government.  Another  object  in 
limiting  the  number  of  commissioners  is  to  obtain  a  'short 
ballot';  that  is,  a  limited  number  of  officials  to  be  elected, 
placing  the  duty  and  responsibility  of  appointing  others  on 
those  elected  and  holding  the  latter  to  strict  accountability. 

"The  city  manager  is  primarily  a  man  chosen  to  run  the 
business  of  a  city  on  the  same  lines  of  efficiency  and  economy 
which  he  would  adopt  if  he  were  running  it  as  a  private  busi- 
ness of  his  own.  In  this  respect  it  follows  the  European  (es- 
pecially the  German)  method  of  obtaining  good  municipal 
government.  A  few  years  ago  the  city  of  Staunton,  Va.,  being 
constitutionally  baiTed  from  the  adoption  of  the  commission 
plan,  appointed  a  city  manager  to  run  the  city,  subject  to  the 
34 


516  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

policy-determining  action  of  the  city  council.  In  June,  1912, 
Sumter,  S.  C,  with  about  ten  thousand  population,  voted 
three  to  one  in  favor  of  a  city  manager  in  conjunction  with 
the  city  commission  (three  commissioners). 

"The  latest  and  biggest  of  the  places  to  appoint  a  city  man- 
ager is  Dayton,  the  busy  Ohio  city  of  116,577  inhabitants, 
according  to  the  latest  census.  Dayton  hired  Henry  M. 
Waite,  formerly  city  engineer  of  Cincinnati,  to  run  its  affairs 
after  Colonel  Goethals,  the  digger  of  the  Panama  Canal,  had 
declined  the  position.  Waite  is  well  known  in  Dayton  for 
his  efficient  work  during  the  flood  time  last  spring." 

The  present  mayor  of  Wilmington,  Parker  Quince  Moore, 
is  a  worthy  descendant  of  the  leading  spirits  of  the  Colonial 
Cape  Fear  described  by  the  British  Governor  Burrington  in 
his  official  dispatches  to  the  Home  Government  as  the  "pes- 
tiferous Moore  family,"  who  vexed  the  Royal  Government 
at  Brunswick  by  their  revolutionary  tendencies,  and  later, 
on  the  19th  of  February,  1766,  advocated  the  first  armed 
resistance  on  the  American  continent  to  the  authority  of  their 
Sovereig-n  Lord,  King  George,  when  450  men  of  the  Cape 
Fear,  led  by  George  Moore,  of  Orton,  and  Cornelius  Harnett, 
of  Wilmington,  surrounded  Governor  Tryon's  palace  at  Rus- 
sellboro,  on  the  Cape  Fear,  and  demanded  with  arms  in  their 
hands  the  surrender  of  the  stamp-master  and  the  odious  em- 
blems of  his  authority. 

Mayor  Moore  is  not  only  to  the  manner  born,  but  his  busi- 
ness training,  his  patriotic  spirit,  and  the  charm  of  his  pleas- 
ing personality  have  established  him  in  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all  classes  of  our  people.  To  my  request  for  an 
expression  of  his  observations  of  municipal  government  he 
has  kindly  responded  as  follows: 

"For  some  years  there  has  been  an  increasing  demand  in 
this  country  for  better  municipal  government,  and,  if  the 
views  attributed  to  an  eminent  statesman — that  we  had  the 
worst-governed  municipalities  in  the  world — is  even  approxi- 
mately correct,  there  is  need  for  change.  While  we  may  not 
be  quite  prepared  to  accede  to  so  severe  an  arraignment, 
many  of  us  are  fully  convinced  that  the  ordinary  government 


PEACE  RESTORED  517 

of  our  cities  and  towns  is  very  far  from  being  noticeable  for 
the  effective  and  economic  management  usually  prevailing  in 
other  corporations. 

"The  first  move  made  in  the  direction  of  advantageous 
change  was  in  Galveston,  where  what  has  been  popularly 
called  the  commission  form  of  government  was  first  instituted. 
Several  hundred  cities  have  since  undertaken  this  method,  and 
as  a  step  forward  in  the  betterment  of  conditions  it  is  to  be 
highly  approved.  While  not  all  cities  or  towns  had  so  wide 
a  margin  as  Galveston,  between  corruption  and  extravagance 
on  the  one  hand  and  honest  administration  on  the  other,  upon 
which  to  work,  and  while  therefore  the  changes  made  else- 
where have  not  indicated  the  same  tremendous  improvement, 
it  is  unquestionably  true  that  there  has  been  a  general  and 
decided  tendency  towards  a  higher  standard  in  municipal 
government.  That  the  commission  form  of  government  is 
not  in  itself  a  panacea  for  all  ills  of  municipalities  has  been 
ascertained  and  is  admitted,  but  the  method  permits  of  more 
opportunities  for  improvement,  and  offers  a  better  basis  upon 
which  to  promote  the  interest  of  taxpayers,  who  may  be 
likened  to  stockholders  in  a  corporation,  except  that  they  se- 
cure dividends  through  savings  rather  than  from  profits. 

"In  our  own  city,  the  new  government  had  a  small  field  for 
accomplishment,  as  the  previous  ones  had  been  economic  and 
conservative — possibly  a  little  too  conservative.  It  was  the 
result  of  the  infiiction  on  the  city  of  too  many  commissions, 
though  the  establishment  of  these  was  due  to  a  desire  for  the 
abolition  of  harmful  politics,  and  was  attributable  to  an  effort 
in  the  direction  of  better  things.  The  form  as  we  now  have 
it  was  intended  to  simplify  and  improve.  This  it  has  done, 
but  there  is  more  to  be  accomplished.  We  should  advance 
further  by  making  our  council  more  of  a  legislative  and  less 
of  an  executive  body,  and  by  consolidating  departmental  man- 
agement under  one  responsible  head,  following  the  method 
forced  by  experience  on  all  commercial  corporations.  The 
appointment  of  a  city  manager,  having  charge  of  executive 
and  administrative  work,  subject  to  the  legislative  control  of 
the  council,  would,  in  my  judgment,  unify  the  work  of  the 


518  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

government,  promote  harmony  of  operation,  secure  economy 
and  eifectiveness  (which  is  practically  the  same  thing)  and 
while  not  interfering  with  the  right  of  the  people  to  select 
their  own  rulers,  would  secure  management  which  would 
approve  itself  in  lower  taxes,  higher  efficiency,  less  deference 
to  selfish  interests.  Several  cities  are  trying  out  the  manager 
plan,  already  successful  in  other  countries,  and  it  is  more  than 
probable  that  all  will  adopt  it  eventually." 

J.  Allan  Taylor,  Esq.,  one  of  our  most  eminent  publicists 
and  logicians,  whose  experience  as  an  alderman  of  the  City  of 
Wilmington  in  former  years  increases  the  weight  of  his  ex- 
cellent opinion,  has  expressed  to  me  his  view  of  municipal 
government  in  the  following  words : 

"An  eminent  English  commentator  has  observed  that  our 
Federal  and  State  governments  are  as  excellent  as  our  mu- 
nicipal governments  are  bad,  and  the  truth  of  this  criticism 
is  evidenced  by  our  persistent  efforts  to  better  city  govern- 
ment, and  our  failure  to  achieve  any  marked  success  is  per- 
haps traceable  to  inadequate  comprehension  of  the  essential 
differences  between  general  and  local  government,  and  until 
this  difference  is  rightly  estimated  no  accepted  criterion  for 
efficient  city  government  can  be  expected. 

"Among  the  expedients  tried  for  the  betterment  of  city 
government  is  the  commission  form,  but  the  principle  of  this 
form  of  administration  is  but  indifferently  understood  and 
worse  applied.  The  principle  proceeds  upon  the  true  con- 
ception of  municipal  government — that  the  nearer  govern- 
ment comes  to  the  control  of  the  citizen  in  both  life  and  prop- 
erty the  more  closely  it  should  approach  industrial  corporate 
management,  and  the  expedient  has  proved  successful  just  in 
the  degree  that  its  true  conception  has  been  appreciated  and 
its  true  principle  applied.  The  political  element  is  so  ever- 
present  and  persistent  that  capable  administration  can  obtain 
only  under  conditions  of  civic  pride  and  sense  of  property 
responsibility,  and  when  it  is  remembered  that  of  our  mu- 
nicipal electorate  only  about  four  per  cent  represent  real 
property  owners,  the  difficulty  of  administering  city  govern- 


PEACE  RESTORED  519 

ment  on  a  business  basis  would  seem  an  all  but  insoluble 
problem. 

"In  regard  to  our  local  government,  we  have  never  bad  the 
commission  form  except  in  name,  and  the  opportunity  for 
giving  the  theory  a  practical  test  was  lost  when  political  pres- 
sure proved  strong  enough  to  dictate  the  terms  of  legislative 
enactment,  so  that  the  present  system  is  distinguishable  from 
our  old  form  of  aldermanic  govei-nment  only  as  respects  the 
payment  of  salary  to  councilmen  and  the  shearing  of  the 
mayor  of  all  magisterial  power.  Ward  lines  still  mark  the 
political  influence  that  shape  the  system,  a  condition  thor- 
oughly inconsistent  with  the  choosing  of  councilmen  with  the 
single  idea  of  fitness,  and  this  is  the  rock  on  which  our  ex- 
periment has  been  wrecked.  With  ward  lines  abolished  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  it  would  be  possible  to  elect  men  at 
large  qualified  to  administer  the  government  on  business 
principles,  provided  the  duties  of  councilmen  were  made 
directorial  and  the  salary  eliminated. 

"The  ability  of  the  city  to  pay  salaries  commensurate  with 
the  undivided  services  of  capable  men  is  obviously  impossible, 
and  the  only  practical  alternative  is  the  making  of  the 
office  of  councilman  an  honorarium.  The  commission  form 
of  government  thrives  just  in  proportion  as  the  politician  is 
absent  and  the  business  man  present" 


CAPE  FEAE  NEWSPAPERS. 

If  we  may  believe  the  historian  Williamson,  the  Lords 
Proprietors  and  the  Royal  Governors  during  their  adminis- 
tration of  affairs  were  extremely  hostile  to  the  establishment 
of  newspapers  in  the  colony.  Doubtless  they  knew  well  the 
power  of  an  unfettered  press,  and  dreaded  its  influence  upon 
the  minds  of  the  people.  Nor  did  the  circumstances  and  con- 
ditions of  the  early  times  offer  any  financial  inducement  for 
establishing  a  printing  house.  It  was  not  until  1749  that  a 
press  was  set  up  in  the  colony.  In  that  year  James  Davis 
erected  one  at  New  Bern ;  and  in  1755,  some  postoffices  being 
then  established  by  which    newspapers  could  be  distributed. 


520  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Davis  began  tlie  publication  of  a  paper  in  that  town.  It  was 
called  the  North  Carolina  Gazette,  and  was  printed  on  a  small 
sheet,  and  issued  weekly. 

The  second  press  set  up  in  North  Carolina  was  at  Wilming- 
ton, in  1763,  by  Andrew  Stewart,  who  printed  a  paper 
called  the  Cape  Fear  Gazette  and  Wilmington  Advertiser. 
That  paper  was  discontinued  in  1767,  but  was  succeeded  the 
same  year  by  the  Cape  Fear  Mercury,  published  by  Adam 
Boyd.  Boyd  was  a  man  of  versatile  talents,  an  Englishman, 
but  a  true  friend  to  the  Colonies.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety  for  the  town  of  Wilmington,  in  1775, 
and  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Committee  of  Corre- 
spondence. In  1776  he  entered  the  ministry  and  was  ap- 
pointed a  chaplain  of  the  Continental  line. 

We  have  no  means  of  knowing  how  long  the  Mercury  ex- 
isted, nor  have  we  been  able  to  find  copies  of  any  other  pub- 
lications prior  to  1818.  In  that  year,  Mr.  David  Smith,  jr., 
father  of  the  late  Col.  Wm.  L.  Smith,  formerly  mayor  of  the 
City  of  Wilmington,  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Cape 
Fear  Recorder,  which  continued  under  his  management  until 
1835,  when  Mr.  Archibald  Maclaine  Hooper  succeeded  him. 
Mr.  Hooper  had  fine,  scholarly  attainments  and  was  fond  of 
the  classics.  He  had  the  pen  of  a  ready  writer,  and  his  style 
was  characterized  by  ease  and  elegance.  He  was  felicitous 
in  expression,  and  clothed  his  ideas  in  language  chaste  and 
beautiful.  He  was  a  near  relative  of  William  Hooper,  the 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  he  was  the 
father  of  Johnson  Hooper,  so  well  known  to  fame  as  the  au- 
thor of  Simon  Suggs,  TaMng  the  Census,  and  other  humorous 
works.  For  a  number  of  years  the  Recorder  was  the  only 
paper  published  in  this  part  of  the  State.  The  next  paper  es- 
tablished was  the  Wilmington  Advertiser. 

About  the  year  1834,  Mr.  Henry  S.  Ellinwood  came  to 
Wilmington,  and  assumed  the  editorial  chair  of  the  Adver- 
tiser. He  was  an  educated  gentleman,  and  fitted  for  the 
duties  of  a  journalist.  He  courted  the  muses  with  consider- 
able success,  and  much  of  his  work  gave  ample  evidence  of 
wit  and  fancy,  and  belles-lettres  culture.    His  connection  with 


PEACE  RESTORED  521 

the  paper  was,  however,  very  brief,  as  he  died  suddenly  a 
short  time  after  taking  charge.  After  his  death  the  paper 
was  purchased  by  Mr.  Joshua  Cochrane,  of  Fayetteville,  and 
conducted  by  him  until  the  summer  of  1836,  when  he  died 
and  Mr.  F.  C.  Hill  became  the  editor  and  proprietor,  and 
continued  its  publication  until  about  the  year  1842,  when  it 
ceased  to  exist. 

Contemporary  with  the  Advertiser  was  the  People's  Press, 
a  paper  published  by  P.  W.  Fanning  and  Thomas  Loring, 
the  latter  being  the  editor-in-chief,  which  position  he  held 
for  some  time,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interest  and  purchased 
the  Standard,  the  organ  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the 
State,  issued  at  Ealeigh,  and  he  removed  to  that  city.  There 
he  brought  to  the  discharge  of  his  duties  great  energy,  perse- 
verance, marked  ability,  and  a  thorough  familiarity  with 
political  history.  He  was  a  man  of  sanguine  temperament 
and  a  warm  partisan,  and  in  the  excitement  of  controversy 
often  indulged  in  expressions  towards  his  political  opponents, 
which,  in  his  calmer  moments,  his  judgment  condemned.  He 
wielded  a  political  influence,  at  one  time,  second  to  but  few 
men  in  the  State,  and  was  an  acknowledged  leader  of  his 
party,  but  differing  from  them  in  1842  in  regard  to  their 
course  towards  the  banks  of  the  State,  he  retired  from  the 
position  he  held  rather  than  continue  to  hold  it  at  the  sacri- 
fice of  his  independence.  Returning  to  Wilmington,  he  es- 
tablished the  Commercial^  which  he  conducted  for  a  number 
of  years,  until  failing  health  compelled  him  to  discontinue  it. 

The  Wilmington  Chronicle  was  established  about  the  year 
1838,  by  Asa  A.  Brown.  It  was  an  exponent  of  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Whig  party,  and  advanced  them  with  great  zeal 
and  ability.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  capable  editor,  a  good  writer, 
and  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  In  1851,  he  dis- 
posed of  the  paper  to  Talcott  Burr,  jr.,  who  changed  its  name 
to  the  Wilmington  Herald. 

Under  his  management,  the  Herald  became  one  of  the  lead- 
ing papers  in  the  State,  and  but  for  his  untimely  death  in 
1858,  would  have  taken  rank  with  any  in  the  South. 

Mr.  Burr's  peculiar  characteristics  as  a  writer  were  his 


522  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

ready  wit  and  sparkling  humor,  overlaying  a  deep  vein  of 
strong,  impulsive  feeling.  Quick,  vivid,  and  flashing,  never 
missing  its  point,  yet  never  striking  to  wound,  abounding  in 
gay  and  pleasant  fancies,  and  always  warm  and  genial  as  the 
summer  air,  his  wit  and  humor  touched  the  commonest  topic 
of  everyday  life,  and  imbued  it  with  new  and  charming  at- 
tractiveness. He  was  struck  down  by  the  shaft  of  the  great 
Destroyer  in  the  prime  of  life  and  in  the  midst  of  an  active, 
useful,  and  honorable  career. 

After  his  death,  his  brothers,  C.  E.  and  R.  Burr,  carried 
on  the  paper  for  a  year  or  two,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands 
of  A.  M.  Waddell,  and  ceased  to  exist  on  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war. 

The  Wilmington  Journal:  In  the  year  1844,  Alfred  L. 
Price  and  David  Fulton,  under  the  firm  name  of  Fulton  & 
Price,  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Wilmington  Journal, 
a  paper  destined  to  exercise  a  controlling  infiuence  for  many 
years  upon  the  political  questions  of  the  day.  The  editorial 
department  was  under  the  control  of  Mr.  Fulton  and  was 
very  ably  conducted  until  his  death,  which  occurred  a  year 
or  two  after  the  establishment  of  the  paper,  when  his  brother, 
James  Fulton,  took  charge  of  its  management. 

James  Fulton  was  no  ordinary  man.  He  possessed  a  vig- 
orous intellect  and  a  clear  judgment,  was  quick  at  repartee, 
and  prompt  to  take  advantage  of  any  point  exposed  by  an 
adversary ;  but  he  was  always  courteous,  and  rarely  indulged 
in  personalities.  He  wrote  with  great  ease,  and  his  style  was 
chaste,  graceful,  and  vigorous.  He  had  humor,  too,  and  it 
bubbled  up  continually,  not  that  keen,  pungent  wit  that 
stings  and  irritates,  but  that  which  provokes  merriment  by 
droll  fancies  and  quaint  illustrations.  He  read  much,  and 
remembered  what  he  read,  and  could  utilize  it  effectively. 

The  Journal  quickly  became  a  power  in  the  State.  In  this 
section  particularly,  its  influence  was  unbounded.  Mr.  Ful- 
ton died  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1866,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded as  editor  by  Maj.  J.  A.  Engelhard,  who  sustained  the 
high  reputation  the  paper  had  acquired.  Upon  the  retire- 
ment of  Mr.  Alfred  L.  Price,  about  18Y3,  Col.  Wm.  L.  Saun- 


PEACE  RESTORED  523 

ders  became  connected  with  ttie  paper,  the  firm  being  Engel- 
hard and  Saunders,  an  intellectual  combination  in  journal- 
ism seldom  surpassed. 

During  the  troublous  times  after  the  close  of  the  war,  the 
utterances  of  the  Journal  were  manly,  outspoken,  and  fear- 
less in  condemnation  of  measures  regarded  as  oppressive  to 
our  people.  The  editors  practiced  no  temporizing  policy,  but 
boldly  uttered  what  their  convictions  prompted  them  to  de- 
clare. The  paper  continued  thus  until  1876,  when  adverse 
circumstances  caused  its  suspension  as  a  daily.  It  was  then 
published  as  a  weekly,  the  name,  Wilmington  Journal,  being 
retained  by  Josh  T.  James,  the  new  editor  and  proprietor. 

But  few  copies  of  the  earlier  papers  published  in  Wilming- 
ton are  now  in  existence.  Of  some,  not  a  copy  can  be  found, 
hence  there  may  be,  and  doubtless  are,  omissions  in  the  pres- 
ent list. 

The  Wilmington  Post,  a  Kepublican  paper,  was  established 
in  1866,  but  about  1872  was  discontinued. 

The  North  Carolina  Presbyterian,  weekly,  was  first  estab- 
lished in  Fayetteville,  January  1,  1858,  the  Rev.  Geo.  Mc- 
l^eill  and  the  late  Bartholomew  Fuller  being  the  editors.  It 
was  removed  to  Wilmington  in  INTovember,  1874,  John  Mc- 
Laurin  becoming  the  editor  and  proprietor.  Mr.  McLaurin, 
who  was  one  of  our  most  exemplary  Christian  citizens,  and  a 
gentleman  of  fine  attainments,  continued  its  publication  in 
Wilmington  for  about  twenty-five  years,  when  he  sold  it  to 
a  Charlotte  publishing  company,  which  disposed  of  it  later 
to  Dr.  A.  J.  McKelway  of  Charlotte,  where  it  has  been  pub- 
lished as  the  Presbyterian  Standard. 

The  Wilmington  Sun  had  a  place  in  the  morning  field  of 
Wilmington  journalism,  and  although  shortlived,  having  its 
beginning  in  September,  1879,  and  its  end  in  April,  1880,  it 
left  a  pleasing  memory  in  the  commimity,  which  held  in  the 
highest  esteem  its  able  editor,  Mr.  Cicero  W.  Harris,  and  his 
capable  staff,  Mrs.  Cicero  W.  Harris,  Mr.  Wade  H.  Harris, 
and  Mr.  Harry  P.  Russell. 

For  some  years  prior  to  1879,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris,  who 
were  of  Oxford,   N".   C,  were  conspicuous  in  Wilmington 


524  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

for  their  literary  attainments.  Mr.  Harris  was  for  some  time 
editor  of  the  Star,  and  Mrs.  Harris,  who  was  a  woman  of  most 
attractive  personality  and  of  remarkable  energy,  published 
a  magazine,  the  South  Atlantic,  which  might  have  prospered 
but  for  the  financial  depression  of  the  times. 

Col.  Wade  H.  Harris,  the  present  editor  of  the  Charlotte 
Observer,  although  a  mere  youth  at  the  time,  served  as  local 
editor  on  the  Sun,  and  today  speaks  of  his  experiences  and 
training  in  Wilmington  in  the  warmest  terms  of  appreciation. 

Mr.  Harry  P.  Eussell  shared  with  Mrs.  Harris  the  duties 
of  the  business  oflice.  He  was  a  young  man  of  fine  attain- 
ments, and  later  was  prominently  connected  with  the  ISTew 
York  Sugar  Exchange  and  amassed  a  comfortable  fortune. 
He  died  in  Orange,  'N.  J.,  some  six  years  ago. 

The  Sun  was  printed  by  Messrs.  Jackson  &  Bell,  the  well- 
known  printers  of  Wilmington,  and  had  as  its  capable  fore- 
man, Mr.  Thomas  T.  Seeders,  whose  make-up  was  said  to  be 
the  best  in  the  State. 

The  Africa- American  Presbyterian,  published  in  the  inter- 
est of  the  colored  members  of  that  denomination,  by  Eev.  D. 
J.  Saunders,  a  colored  man  of  remarkable  attainments,  lived 
for  several  years. 

The  North  Carolina  Medical  Journal  was  established  by 
Dr.  Thomas  F.  Wood  in  January,  1878.  It  was  a  monthly 
publication,  ably  edited  and  of  great  value  to  the  profession. 

The  Morning  Star,  the  State's  oldest  daily  newspaper,  was 
founded  September  23^  1867,  by  William  H.  Bernard,  who 
came  from  his  home  in  Fayetteville,  N.  C,  just  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  and,  on  October  1,  1865,  with  the  late  Col.  John 
D.  Barry,  began  the  publication  of  the  old  Wilmington  Dis- 
patch, a  morning  daily  newspaper  with  its  offices  of  publica- 
tion on  the  south  side  of  Market  Street,  between  Front  and 
Second  Streets.  The  copartnership  existing  between  Messrs. 
Bernard  and  Barry  lasted  but  a  few  months,  and  there  was  a 
dissolution  of  the  firm,  each  partner  assuming  his  share  of  the 
liabilities.  Major  Bernard  took  charge  of  the  job  printing 
department  of  the  business  and  Colonel  Barry  continued  the 


PEACE  RESTORED  525 

publication  of  the  newspaper,  which,  after  two  or  three  years, 
suspended  publication. 

The  job  office  included  in  its  equipment  the  first  press  on 
which  the  Morning  Star  was  printed.  Major  Bernard  re- 
moved his  part  of  the  business  to  a  room  over  a  grocery 
store,  then  conducted  by  Edwards  &  Hall,  on  Water  Street, 
between  Market  and  Dock.  He  did  job  printing  exclusively 
for  several  months,  but  on  September  23,  1867,  began  the 
publication  of  the  Star,  which  was  conducted  for  some  months 
as  an  evening  paper,  but  later  took  the  morning  field.  It  has 
remained  in  the  newspaper  firmament  of  the  State  until  this 
day,  while  other  papers,  started  at  intervals  since,  during  all 
these  years,  have  one  after  another  dropped  from  the  morning 
constellation  for  various  reasons. 

The  installation  of  a  faster  press  necessitated  a  removal 
of  the  plant  to  what  is  now  known  as  the  Custom  House  Alley, 
where  it  was  published  for  nearly  ten  years.  In  1876  the 
Star  was  removed  from  that  location  to  Nos.  10  and  11, 
Princess  Street,  once  an  inn  of  the  earlier  Cape  Fear  period. 
The  building  at  one  time  housed  the  late  Joseph  Jefferson, 
who,  with  his  theatrical  company,  came  from  New  York  in  a 
sailing  vessel,  playing  in  the  local  theatre  and  making  trips  by 
vessel  to  the  larger  port  cities  of  the  two  Carolinas,  main- 
taining permanent  headquarters  in  Wilmington. 

The  predominant  characteristic  of  the  Star  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  Major  Bernard  was  its  intense  loyalty  to  the 
Democratic  party.  Though  conservative,  it  was  not  unmind- 
ful of  the  need  of  party  reform  from  time  to  time.  Its 
greatest  service  was  perhaps  during  what  is  known  as  the 
"White  Government  Campaign"  in  North  Carolina  in  1898, 
culminating  in  the  Wilmington  Eevolution  of  the  same  year. 
Major  Bernard  never  sought  office,  though  for  27  years  he  was 
a  member  of  the  State  Democratic  Executive  Committee,  and, 
for  a  part  of  the  time,  a  member  of  the  Advisory  Sub-Com- 
mittee of  the  party  organization  in  the  State. 

On  May  1,  1909,  on  account  of  impaired  health  and  a  de- 
sire to  retire  from  active  journalism.  Major  Bernard  sold 
the  paper  to  the  present  owners.  The  Wilmington  Star  Com- 


526  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

pany,  Inc.,  composed  of  some  of  the  leading  Wilmington 
business  men,  the  incorporators  being  James  Spnint,  H.  C. 
McQueen,  M.  J.  Corbett,  Col.  Walker  Taylor,  D.  C.  Love, 
C.  W.  Yates,  Wm.  H.  Sprunt,  Capt.  John  W.  Harper,  J.  A. 
Springer,  W.  E.  Springer,  the  late  James  H.  Chadbourn, 
James  H.  Carr,  Joseph  E.  Thompson,  Maj.  Wm.  H.  Bernard, 
and  his  son,  William  Stedman  Bernard,  the  last  two  named 
having  retained  a  small  interest  in  the  business  largely  for 
sentimental  reasons. 

Upon  the  purchase  of  the  property  by  the  new  owners,  in 
1909,  the  paper  was  moved  to  quarters  fitted  up  for  it  in  the 
Orton  Building,  a  perfecting  press  was  installed,  and  new 
typesetting  machines  were  added.  Within  the  next  four  years 
the  paper  about  doubled  its  circulation  in  Wilmington  and 
tributary  counties  in  eastern  North  Carolina  and  upper 
South  Carolina.  It  has  devoted  its  energies  for  the  most  part 
since  that  time  to  the  educational  and  moral  advancement  of 
the  community,  to  an  advocacy  of  a  commission  form  of 
government,  an  enforcement  of  law,  and  the  general  upbuild- 
ing of  the  community.  This  year  (1914),  its  business  having 
outgrown  its  former  quarters,  an  eligible  site  has  been  pur- 
chased from  the  Murchison  estate,  and  the  paper  has  moved 
into  a  home  of  its  own  on  Chestnut  Street,  overlooking  the 
U.  S.  postoffice  grounds  and  in  close  proximity  to  the  busi- 
ness district  of  the  city.  With  the  removal  into  its  new  home, 
a  modem  perfecting,  stereotyping  press  has  been  added  to  its 
equipment  and  other  improvements  have  been  made. 

Financially,  the  paper  has  prospered  and  was  never  upon  a 
sounder  basis.  The  outlook  for  the  future  is  all  that  could  be 
desired,  and  coming  years  are  expected  to  justify  fully  the 
faith  that  has  inspired  the  present  owners. 

The  Wilmington  Messenger,  which  was  founded  by  Julius 
A.  Bonitz,  was  removed  to  Wilmington  from  Goldsboro  in 
May,  1887,  at  the  solicitation  of  a  number  of  Wilmington's 
most  influential  business  men,  and  the  first  issue  was  printed 
June  29th  of  the  same  year  in  the  old  Journal  Building  on 
Princess  Street.  Mr.  Bonitz  was  induced  to  move  to  Wil- 
mington, after  his  plant  had  twice  been  destroyed  by  fire 


PEACE  RESTORED  527 

within  a  few  years.  It  was  said  that  he  gave  Wilmington 
the  most  progressive  Democratic  daily  paper  of  its  period. 
He  continued  as  owmer  and  editor  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
February  7,  1891,  and  on  April  5th  of  the  same  year  the 
plant  and  good  will  were  purchased  under  foreclosure  by 
Messrs.  J.  W.  Jackson  and  Benjamin  Bell,  and  the  paper 
was  published  under  the  firm  name  of  Jackson  &  Bell. 

The  Messenger  was  printed  without  missing  a  single  issue 
from  Mr.  Bonitz's  death  until  it  was  taken  over  by  the  new 
proprietors,  and  it  was  continued  as  an  eight-page  publication. 

The  paper  under  its  new  ownership  was  improved  from 
time  to  time,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  the  best  edited 
and  most  influential  newspapers  in  eastern  ITorth  Carolina. 
As  a  leader  in  the  campaigTi  for  white  supremacy  in  1898, 
under  the  editorship  of  Dr.  T.  B.  Kingsbury,  the  Messenger 
did  commendable  service  and  was  recognized  throughout  the 
State  as  a  powerful  factor  in  aiding  the  Democratic  party  to 
accomplish  the  political  reforms  of  this  period. 

The  Messenger  suspended  publication  June  5,  1907,  after 
serving  well  its  day  and  generation  for  twenty  years.  The 
proprietors  discontinued  the  paper  in  order  to  give  closer 
attention  to  the  job  department  of  the  plant,  this  feature  of 
the  business  having  greatly  increased  and  having  become  more 
profitable  than  the  newspaper. 

The  Evening  Review  was  published  in  Wilmington  for 
several  years  by  its  founder,  editor,  and  proprietor,  the  late 
Joshua  T.  James,  a  prominent  member  of  one  of  the  old  sub- 
stantial families  of  the  Cape  Fear  noted  for  its  intelligence 
and  refinement,  its  public  spirit  and  unselfish  devotion  to  the 
best  interests  of  our  people.  Mr.  James  was  a  born  journal- 
ist, alert,  intelligent,  with  the  old-time  urbanity  which  was  a 
family  characteristic.  Emerging  from  the  four  years'  war, 
he  served  for  years  on  the  old  Journal  staff,  and  then,  with- 
out the  necessary  means,  he  bravely  undertook  a  task  beset 
with  difficulties  and  which  at  times  seemed  insurmountable — 
the  establishment  of  an  evening  daily  newspaper. 

The  Review  was  a  clean,  dignified  newspaper,  ably  edited. 
It  had  the  good  will  of  our  community,  and  the  lamented 


628  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

death  of  its  proprietor  cut  short  the  honorable  career  of 
one  of  the  builders  of  a  better  Wilmington.  It  lived  from 
December,  1875,  until  July,  1898. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  James,  the  following  tribute  was  paid 
him  by  his  contemporary,  the  editor  of  the  Star: 

It  is  painful  for  the  Star  to  chronicle  the  death  of  Mr.  Josh  T. 
James,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Wilmington,  and  one  of  the  best- 
known  newspaper  men  in  North  Carolina.  He  passed  away  yester- 
day morning  at  4  o'clock  at  his  home  on  Third  and  Grace  Streets. 
For  several  years  he  has  had  attacks  of  inflammatory  rheumatism 
and  during  the  past  six  months  has  been  a  great  sufferer.  About  six 
weeks  ago  he  took  to  his  bed,  and  he  constantly  declined  till  the  end 
came. 

Joshua  Tillinghast  James  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Mr.  John 
S.  James.  He  was  born  in  Wilmington,  February  3,  1839,  having 
reached  the  60th  year  of  his  age  on  the  3rd  of  last  February. 

Mr.  James  received  his  education  principally  at  the  Wilmington 
Institute,  of  which  the  late  Mr.  L.  Meginney  was  principal.  When 
quite  a  young  man  he  developed  a  talent  for  journalism  and  prior 
to  the  War  between  the  States  was  employed  on  the  local  staff  of  the 
Wilmington  Herald,  an  influential  Whig  paper,  owned  and  edited  by 
the  late  Messrs.  C.  E.  and  R.  Burr,  brothers  of  the  late  gifted  Col. 
Jas.  G.  Burr.  At  the  beginning  of  the  war,  in  1861,  he  entered  the 
Confederate  service  and  was  second  lieutenant  of  the  Wilmington 
Rifle  Guards,  commanded  by  Capt.  O.  P.  Meares,  afterwards  judge 
of  the  Criminal  Court.  He  went  with  the  company  to  aid  in  the 
seizure  of  Fort  Caswell  at  the  beginning  of  hostilities.  He  served  on 
the  South  Carolina  coast  awhile,  and  at  the  expiration  of  twelve 
months,  for  which  period  he  had  enlisted,  he  reenlisted  in  a  cavalry 
company  commanded  by  Capt.  Andrew  Mclntire.  Having  caught 
cold  while  in  camp  in  South  Carolina,  his  hearing  was  so  seriously 
affected  that  he  was  detailed  to  the  Quartermaster's  Department  of 
the  Confederate  States  Government  at  this  place.  He  was  unwilling 
to  accept  a  discharge,  desiring  to  serve  his  country  as  best  he  could. 
He  was  an  enthusiastic  and  devoted  adherent  of  the  Confederate 
cause.  The  injury  which  his  hearing  received  in  the  service  lasted 
him  through  life. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  War  between  the  States  Mr.  James  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  business  with  Capt.  T.  D.  Meares,  of  this 
city,  under  the  firm  name  of  James  &  Meares.  Subsequently  he 
reentered  journalism,  and  was  local  editor  of  that  staunch  and  fear- 
less paper,  the  Daily  Journal,  having  succeeded  his  brother,  the 
late  Capt.  John  C.  James,  the  latter  retiring  from  the  staff  of  the 
Journal  to  engage  in  other  business.  For  awhile  after  the  war  Mr. 
James  also  did  work  on  the  Daily  Post,  a  Republican  paper,  but 
always  a  firm  Democrat  he  had  it  distinctly  understood  that  he  was 


PEACE  RESTORED  529 

only  to  write  of  matters  not  connected  with  politics.  He  also  served 
for  awhile  on  a  paper  called  the  Herald  of  the  Union,  published  by  a 
Northern  man. 

In  the  seventies  Mr.  James  established  the  Daily  Review,  an  after- 
noon paper,  which  he  kept  up  till  a  year  ago,  when  he  suspended  on 
account  of  bad  health. 

Mr.  James  was  a  vigorous  and  fearless  writer,  and  was  a  staunch 
Democrat  and  a  devoted  son  of  North  Carolina.  He  despised  sham 
and  was  a  man  of  firm  character,  positive  manner,  and  unbending 
integrity. 

The  Evening  Dispatch  was  begun  tlie  lOth  of  January, 
1895,  upon  the  "commonwealth  basis"  by  four  printers  with 
very  slender  pecuniary  means,  who  agreed  to  work  without 
any  compensation  until  the  venture  was  established  upon  a 
paying  foundation.  After  two  months'  struggle  one  of  the 
four  partners  died,  and  the  three  survivors  secured  the  serv- 
ices of  Mr.  R.  K.  Bryan  as  editor.  For  two  years  the  paper 
had  a  precarious  existence,  and  dire  necessity  forced  two  of 
the  promoters  into  more  remunerative  employment.  The 
survivor,  Mr.  R.  P.  McClammy,  became  the  sole  proprietor, 
and  now  after  nineteen  years  of  changing  fortune  he  has 
established  it  upon  a  sound  paying  basis,  with  a  competent 
staff  of  enterprising  men  under  his  efficient  leadership.  It 
has  grown  from  a  mere  handbill  of  local  items  to  its  present 
respectable  dimensions,  and  from  its  original  dingy  quarters 
into  a  home  of  its  own  which  was  specially  designed  for 
larger  gTowth  and  influence.  Recently  it  has  been  equipped 
with  modem  facilities,  and  its  patronage  as  the  only  evening 
daily  is  increasing  by  leaps  and  bounds.  Mr.  R.  P.  McClam- 
my is  the  proprietor,  Mr.  James  H.  Cowan  is  editor,  and 
Mr.  William  E.  Lawson  is  city  editor. 

De.  T.  B.  Kingsbury. 

A  chapter  on  newspapers  on  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  in  these 
Chronicles  would  be  incomplete  without  particular  reference 
to  the  career  of  our  veteran  journalist  and  scholar,  the  late 
Dr.  Theodore  B.  Kingsbury,  whose  memory  is  venerated  by 
those  who  were  his  contemporaries,  and  by  our  citizens  gen- 
erally, who  regarded  him  with  great  respect  and  admiration. 


530  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

We  learn  from  Captain  Ashe's  fine  tribute  in  his  Biographi- 
cal History  of  J^orth  Carolina,  that  early  in  life  after  Mr. 
Kingsbury  left  the  University  of  ]Srorth  Carolina,  ''he  pub- 
lished a  literary  weekly  at  Oxford,  North  Carolina,  under 
the  name  of  the  Leisure  Hour,  which  attracted  much  at- 
tention and  drew  high  commendation  from  John  R.  Thomp- 
son, editor  of  the  Southern  Literary  Messenger,  then  the  most 
meritorious  literary  magazine  published  in  the  South,  and 
from  Paul  H.  Hayne,  the  poet,  then  editing  Russell's  Maga- 
zine, a  large  monthly  of  genuine  merit  published  in  Charles- 
ton, South  Carolina,  and  from  other  gifted  editors.  In  June 
of  1859  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  literature  in  Trinity 
College,  but  his  thoughts  and  religious  fervor  led  him  into 
another  field,  and  he  entered  the  ministry,  and  continued  in 
that  calling  until  July,  1869.  It  was  about  that  time,  in 
March,  1869,  that  he  was  employed  as  an  associate  editor  of 
the  Raleigh  Sentinel,  then  conducted  by  Hon.  Josiah  Turner, 
and  for  two  years  and  more  he  continued  in  that  capacity. 
While  on  the  Sentinel,  a  momentous  crisis  in  public  affairs 
was  precipitated  by  the  Republican  administration  of  the 
State,  and  Josiah  Turner,  with  unequaled  boldness,  made 
the  Sentinel  the  champion  of  free  government  and  of  the  tra- 
ditional liberties  of  the  people.  ISTo  greater  service  was  ever 
performed  by  any  press  than  that  rendered  to  the  people  of 
ITorth  Carolina  by  the  Sentinel.  In  those  exciting  and  peril- 
ous times  Doctor  Kingsbury  wrote  much,  and  with  strength 
and  patriotic  fervor,  for  the  editorial  columns  of  the  paper, 
and  he  deserves  to  share  in  the  gi'eat  fame  that  is  so  justly 
awarded  to  Josiah  Turner  for  his  bold  and  resolute  editorial 
work.  On  three  occasions  Doctor  Kingsbury  declined  the 
editorship  of  the  Raleigh  Christian  Advocate,  but  he 
edited  Our  Living  and  Our  Dead  for  several  years,  a  publi- 
cation of  a  high  order  of  merit,  begun  by  Col.  S.  D.  Pool,  and 
he  also  edited  the  Educational  Journal  in  1874  and  1875, 
doing  much  to  advance  the  cause  of  public  education  at  that 
time  in  !N'orth  Carolina.  His  contributions  to  Our  Living 
and  Our  Dead  were  noteworthy,  especially  his  literary  criti- 
cisms.    Then  in  the  vigor  of  manhood,  with  a  fine  imagina- 


PEACE  RESTORED  531 

tion  and  excellent  taste,  he  discussed  literary  subjects  ad- 
mirably, bis  dissertations  on  Tennyson  and  Sainte  Beuve 
being  of  especial  excellence.  For  a  year  or  two  be  was  un- 
employed, and  proposed  to  write  tbe  history  of  the  State,  for 
which  he  was  well  fitted  by  his  habits  of  industry  and  his 
literary  attainments.  Circumstances  prevented  this  impor- 
tant undertaking,  and  about  that  time  he  was  offered  a  posi- 
tion as  editorial  writer  on  the  Wilmington  Star,  and,  accept- 
ing it,  he  began  a  long  career  of  journalism  that  gave  great 
satisfaction  to  his  friends  and  the  patrons  of  that  paper.  He 
continued  with  the  Star  for  nearly  thirteen  years,  when  he 
became  editor  of  the  Wilmington  Messenger,  with  which  he 
remained  for  about  as  long  a  period,  having  had  an  experi- 
ence in  journalism  at  Wilmington  of  more  than  a  quarter  of 
a  century.  As  an  editor,  Doctor  Kingsbury  brought  to  the 
discussion  of  his  subjects  a  large  store  of  varied  learning, 
and  his  productions  were  read  with  gTcat  avidity  by  a  host 
of  admirers,  and  received  the  warm  commendation  of  many 
of  the  ablest  men  and  best  thinkers  of  the  State.  In  particu- 
lar were  his  literary  articles  valued  by  the  most  cultured 
among  the  readers  of  his  papers.  The  teachers  and  the  pro- 
fessors of  the  various  colleges  and  the  lawyers  and  ministers 
of  every  denomination  were  generous  and  unstinted  in  their 
praise,  while  his  work  was  not  without  the  appreciation  of  the 
editorial  fraternity.  His  style  was  clear  and  perspicuous, 
elegant  in  diction  and  remarkably  forceful,  and  there  ran 
through  all  of  his  editorials  a  strain  of  patriotism,  a  love  of 
^orth  Carolina,  an  appreciation  of  the  excellence  of  her 
great  men,  that  was  a  distinctive  characteristic  of  his  work. 
It  had  been  his  fortune  to  know  many  of  the  most  important 
persons  of  the  previous  generation,  and  with  pride  and  pleas- 
ure he  pointed  out  time  and  again  their  respective  merits, 
and  spread  on  the  record  their  great  deeds,  which  entitled 
them  to  fame  and  to  the  admiration  of  their  countrymen.  In 
particular  was  he  as  an  editor  at  pains  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  the  great  feats  performed  by  the  ISTorth  Carolina 
soldiers  in  the  War  between  the  States,  and  to  instill  into  the 
35 


532  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

minds  of  the  present  generation  a  correct  understanding  of 
the  causes  that  led  to  the  bloodj  contest.  Indeed,  no  other 
editor  of  the  State  has  been  more  jDatriotic  than  Doctor  Kings- 
bury, and  none  has  excelled  him  in  elegance  of  diction  and 
in  a  large  vocabulary  and  literary  merit.  He  retired  from 
the  Messenger  in  May,  1902,  and  since  that  time  he  has  con- 
tributed weekly  articles  of  great  merit  on  a  large  variety  of 
subjects  to  the  Sunday's  issue  of  the  News  and  Ohserver. 
Distinctly,  Doctor  Kingsbury  has  been  a  literary  man  of  high 
polish  and  capacity,  rather  than  a  business  man  or  politician. 
In  his  early  days  he  was  a  Henry  Clay  Whig,  all  of  his  con- 
nections being  members  of  that  party,  but  he  cared  very 
little  for  the  discussion  of  political  questions  until  the  great 
matters  that  agitated  the  public  mind  in  1860  challenged  his 
earnest  attention,  and  he  then  began  to  study  the  underlying 
principles  of  our  Constitution,  and  became  a  Democrat,  and 
has  never  wavered  in  his  devotion  to  the  principles  of  that 
party.  But  while  rejoicing  in  the  success  of  his  party  and 
the  people  of  the  State,  he  has  never  desired  to  share  in  party 
spoils.  He  had  no  ambition  outside  of  his  chosen  field  of 
work,  and  he  declined  to  seek  the  ofiice  of  superintendent  of 
public  instruction  in  1876,  when  many  of  the  newspapers 
brought  his  name  forvi'^ard  in  connection  with  that  position ; 
and  later,  when  all  of  the  E'orth  Carolina  Congressmen  of- 
fered to  secure  his  appointment  to  a  desirable  consulate  in 
England,  he  again  preferred  to  remain  at  his  editorial  desk. 


PEACE  RESTORED  533 

THE  WILMINGTON  BAR. 

The  Bar  of  Wilmington  has  always  been  one  of  strengtJi 
and  power,  even  from  Colonial  days.  Among  the  earlier 
members  who  stood  high  were  William  Hooper  and  Archibald 
Maclaine ;  later,  Judge  J.  G.  Wright,  William  Hill,  and  Wil- 
liam K.  Halsej;  then  Joseph  Alston  Hill,  William  B. 
Meares,  and  Owen  Hohnes,  followed  by  William  A.  Wright 
and  Joshua  G.  Wright.  Just  before  the  war,  in  addition  to 
the  two  Wrights,  were  Lucien  Holmes,  Thomas  Miller,  Adam 
Empie,  Mauger  London,  Eli  HaJl,  John  L.  Holmes,  Oliver  P. 
Meares,  Moody  B.  Smith,  Griffith  J.  McRee,  DuBrutz  Cutlar, 
Alfred  M.  Waddell,  and  Fred  Poisson,  and  on  a  somewhat 
different  level  from  any  of  these  were  George  Davis,  Robert 
Strange,  and  Samuel  J.  Person. 

After  the  war  the  eloquent  voice  of  Joshua  G.  Wright  was 
heard  no  more,  but  his  mantle  fell  on  Charles  M.  Stedman. 
Other  accessions  were  the  brothers  William  S.  Devane  and 
Duncan  J.  Devane,  Judge  Robert  French,  Duncan  K.  Mac- 
Rae,  Eugene  S.  Martin,  and  Marsden  Bellamy.  While  Mr. 
William  A.  Wright  was  accorded  a  particular  eminence,  Mr. 
Davis,  Colonel  Strange,  and  Judge  Person  were  without  su- 
periors in  the  profession  anywhere  in  the  Union.  No  other 
city  of  only  twenty  thousand  inhabitants  could  boast  of  a  Bar 
of  equal  strength,  eloquence,  and  learning.  And  there  was 
never  heard  any  suggestion  of  scandal  among  them.  The 
shining  lights  of  that  period  have  passed  away,  their  places 
being  taken  by  their  sons  and  kinsmen,  and  others,  of  ex- 
cellent learning,  fine  attainments,  and  high  character.  The 
list  as  given  in  the  directory  reads :  John  D.  Bellamy  &  Son, 
Bellamy  &  Bellamy,  William  J.  Bellamy,  Davis  &  Davis, 
Rountree  &  Carr,  Herbert  McClammy,  Eugene  S.  Martin, 
E'.  K.  Bryan,  Ricaud  &  Empie,  S.  W.  Empie,  W.  P.  Gafford, 
Stevens,  Beasley,  &  Weeks,  C.  L.  Grant,  E.  W.  Bonitz, 
Woodus  Kellum,  William  B.  McKoy,  MacRae  &  MacRae, 
Meares  &  Ruark,  George  L.  Peschau,  T.  W.  Woody,  C.  C. 
Loughlin,  and  M.  Turner. 


534  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

PUBLIC  BUILDII^GS  AND  CHURCHES  IN 
WILMINGTON. 

ByW.  B.McKoT. 

The  first  public  building  erected  in  the  town  of  Wilming- 
ton was  situated  in  the  intersection  of  Market  and  Front 
Streets.  It  was  built  by  private  contribution,  and  called  the 
Town  House.  Under  the  act  incorporating  the  town,  1739, 
this  building  became  the  county  courthouse.  I  have  been 
informed  that  it  was  a  brick  building,  with  an  open  area 
below  paved  with  brick,  and  with  open  archways  approached 
from  each  street ;  on  the  second  floor  was  one  large  hall,  with 
slate  roof.  The  building  was  of  oval  shape  and  is  said  to  have 
resembled  somewhat  in  appearance  the  old  Market  House 
which  still  stands  in  the  streets  of  Fayetteville.  Here  town 
meetings,  the  Superior  Courts,  and  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Province  were  held  when  they  met  in  the  town. 

There  was  no  town  bell  for  some  time,  and  a  drum  was 
used  to  assemble  people  to  all  meetings.  In  1751  a  bell  was 
procured,  and  Mrs.  Clay  was  in  the  employ  of  the  town  for 
over  ten  years,  to  sweep  the  courthouse  above  and  below,  to 
keep  the  windows  shut,  and  to  ring  the  bell  on  necessary 
occasions. 

In  1790  the  building  was  in  bad  condition,  and  its  situa- 
tion in  the  street  endangered  the  spread  of  fire  across  the 
street,  and  an  act  was  passed  requiring  that  it  should  be  re- 
built, on  the  same  spot,  of  brick  as  before,  of  the  same  size, 
shape,  and  dimensions,  and  that  it  was  to  be  used  for  no  other 
purpose  than  a  courthouse. 

In  1840  this  building  was  greatly  damaged  by  fire,  and 
the  public  records  were  damaged  by  water,  so  that  in  1845 
they  all  had  to  bo  copied.  Many  of  the  deeds  and  papers 
were  utterly  lost  at  the  time,  as  blank  pages  of  the  records 
now  testify. 

The  next  courthouse  was  built  on  what  was  then  called  the 
new  jail  lot,  on  the  north  side  of  Princess  Street,  between 
Second  and  Third  Streets.  To  the  west  of  this  new  building 
stood  the  "stocks  and  whipping  post,"  in  open  view  from  the 


PEACE  RESTORED  535 

street,  and  thej  remained  there  till  removed  after  our  late 
War  between  the  States,  an  offensive  mark  of  the  barbarity  of 
the  times  to  our  now  squeamish  inhabitants,  but  no  honest 
man  had  fear  of  it. 

More  recently  a  new  courthouse  was  built  on  Third  Street, 
between  Princess  and  Market. 

The  first  jail  stood  where  the  McRary  house  now  stands, 
and  the  old  basement  walls  of  that  building  are  said  to  be  a 
part  of  that  structure,  which  gave  reason  for  the  local  gossip 
that  under  that  house  are  dungeons.  It  is  now  the  most  his- 
toric building  in  the  city,  having  been  the  headquarters  of 
Lord  Comwallis  and  Major  Craig  during  the  Revolution. 
The  old  DeEosset  house  opposite,  on  Market  Street,  with  its 
quaint  chimney  stacks,  is  also  a  very  old  building,  and  this 
was  the  Confederate  headquarters  in  our  late  War  between 
the  States. 

A  new  jail  was  built  in  the  forties,  at  the  northeast  comer 
of  Second  and  Princess  Streets.  This  building  still  stands, 
but  is  hardly  recognized  under  its  new  dress  and  modem 
tasteful  exterior,  but  should  one  ever  probe  its  massive  stone 
walls,  he  will  find  that  the  heart  of  the  old  edifice  still  stands 
there.  I  recall  as  a  small  child  its  massive  doors,  its  cells,  and 
the  heavy  gratings  at  the  openings  and  at  the  steps  on  each 
floor,  the  heavy  trap-doors  on  a  level  with  the  floor,  the  timbers 
and  boards  thick  and  heavy.  In  my  mind  I  pictured  it  as  re- 
sembling the  keep  of  some  ancient  castle  or  fortress. 

About  1850  a  new  jail  was  built  on  Princess  Street,  be- 
tween Third  and  Fourth. 

The  market  house  where  meat  was  sold  (not  the  fish  mar- 
ket, for  that,  known  as  Mud  Market,  was  at  Second  and 
Market,  along  Jacob's  Run,  then  a  considerable  stream,  where 
the  fish  boats  came  up)  stood  in  the  middle  of  Market  Street, 
halfway  between  the  courthouse  and  the  river.  This  was  a 
long,  one-story  brick  building,  standing  there  in  1Y66. 
The  lower  end  towards  the  river  was  rented  out  by  the  town 
as  a  store,  and  was  once  occupied  by  DeRosset  &  Brown.  It 
was  from  the  roof  of  this  building  that  the  people  of  Wilming- 
ton, after  taking  the  Stamp  Master  forcibly  from  Governor 


636  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Tryon's  residence,  on  the  south  side  of  Market  Street,  im- 
mediately opposite  the  marl^et,  placed  a  rope  around  his  neck 
and  threatened  to  publicly  hang  him  if  he  did  not  then  and 
there  swear  not  to  distribute  the  stamps,  and  to  publicly  re- 
sign his  office  before  the  face  of  royal  authority.  This 
building  was  taken  down  when  the  courthouse  was  removed, 
and  replaced  by  a  long  shed  in  the  middle  of  Market  Street, 
extending  from  Front  Street  towards  the  river,  supported  by 
iron  pillars  and  open  on  all  sides.  It  was  paved  with  brick 
and  fitted  with  wooden  meat  stalls  and  timber  sawed  into 
chopping  blocks.  At  the  upper  end  was  a  stairway  leading 
to  a  bell  tower.  Before  the  war  the  bell  in  this  tower  was  rung 
at  nine  o'clock,  one  o'clock,  and  seven  o'clock;  and  it  rang 
the  nine  o'clock  curfew,  which  required  all  slaves  without  a 
pass  to  leave  the  street. 

^Vnother  public  institution  was  at  Market  Dock,  the  an- 
cient ducking  stool,  a  chair  attached  to  a  long  piece  of  timber 
which  could  be  swung  around  quite  easily  on  a  pivot  and 
ducked  into  the  river,  a  now  forgotten  instrument  of  author- 
ity, where  the  scolds  of  the  town  had  their  morals  regulated. 

There  was  but  one  more  building  that  I  can  recall  belong- 
ing to  the  public.  The  Innes  Academy,  later  known  as  the 
old  Academy  Building,  was  a  great  wooden  bam-like  struc- 
ture, with  a  loft  overhead,  cold,  draughty,  and  uncomfortable 
at  all  seasons.  It  was  in  this  old  building  that  the  comedian 
Joseph  Jefferson  began  his  distinguished  career  as  an  actor. 

To  refer  to  the  church  buildings  alone  would  be  but  to 
classify  the  shells ;  I  must,  at  least,  refer  to  the  origin  and 
purpose  of  the  institution  of  them  in  our  midst,  but  the  space 
allowed  to  me  only  permits  a  brief  reference  to  each. 

There  was  no  organized  parish  at  Cape  Fear  until  the  set- 
tlers came  from  South  Carolina  and  brought  with  them  to 
Brunswick,  in  1729,  Eev.  Mr.  John  LaPierre,  a  French 
Huguenot.  He  was  supplanted  by  Eev.  Mr.  Marsden,  who 
became  the  first  minister  at  St.  James'  Church.  This  church 
was  established  by  an  act  of  the  Assembly  the  25th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1Y51 :  "Whereas,  the  Church  of  St.  James  parish 
in  ISTew  Hanover  County  is  by  law  appointed  to  be  built  in  the 


PEACE  RESTORED  537 

town  of  Wilmington — and  many  well-disposed  persons  have 
subscribed  liberally  thereto,  and  a  further  sum  is  yet  neces- 
sary to  carry  on  and  complete  the  same,"  it  was  provided 
under  the  act  that  the  pews  should  be  sold  to  subscribers,  and 
to  quote  the  act,  "which  piece  or  parcel  of  ground  so  adjusted 
and  set  off,  shall  be  an  estate  of  inheritance  to  such  person 
or  persons,  for  his  and  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever."  Sev- 
eral persons  left  funds  by  their  wills  towards  building  the 
church,  among  them  William  Farris  and  John  Flavell.  The 
Church  of  St.  James  was  not  finished  till  after  1768.  The 
building  stood  partly  in  Market  Street,  facing  the  river,  at  the 
comer  of  Fourth  and  Market  Streets.  A  picture  of  this 
building,  as  well  as  other  buildings  of  that  period,  has  been 
preserved  in  Lossing's  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution. 

At  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  some  of  the  ministers  of  the 
Church  of  England,  bound  by  oath  to  the  Government,  aban- 
doned their  flocks.  The  minister  of  this  parish,  Mr.  Wills, 
retired  as  rector,  but  he  remained  in  Carolina  and  on  occa- 
sions performed  marriage  ceremonies. 

The  old  church  was  abandoned,  except  that  several  times 
court  was  held  there,  and  British  troops  under  Major  Craig 
occupied  it.  I^ot  until  1795  was  it  again  used  as  an  Episco- 
pal church,  when  Dr.  Solomon  Hailing  was  called  as  the  first 
minister.  This  building  had  neither  steeple  nor  belfry,  and 
the  town  bell  was  used  to  call  to  service.  There  were  three 
entrances ;  one  faced  the  river,  in  line  with  the  present  pave- 
ment on  the  south  side  of  Market  Street,  one  opened  at  the 
side  on  Market  Street,  and  one  into  the  graveyard.  The  aisles 
were  quite  broad  and  paved  with  square  bricks,  the  pews 
square  and  box-like.  There  was  a  high  reading  desk,  and 
a  pulpit  still  higher,  from  which  the  congregation  could  be 
observed  in  the  pews,  furnished  with  red  velvet  cushions, 
and  there  was  a  sounding  board  above  the  pulpit.  A  large 
mahogany  table  was  used  for  the  communion  service.  This 
old  church  was  taken  down  in  1840  and  the  present  church 
was  built,  the  old  bricks  and  material  being  used  in  the  new 
house. 

There  was  no  Presbyterian  church  in  Wilmington  till  after 


638  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  Revolution.  The  Scots  had  no  established  church  here, 
but  ministers  caine  and  preached  in  their  homes,  and  the 
Presbyterians  were  strong  on  the  upper  Cape  Fear.  Eev. 
James  Campbell  came  here  from  Pennsylvania,  visited  his 
kinsman,  Alexander  McKay  (now  we  spell  the  name  McKoy) 
in  Anson  County,  and  preached  through  the  Scotch  settle- 
ments, as  did  McAden.  Rev.  Mr.  Bingham  came  to  Wil- 
mington as  a  teacher.  He  was  from  County  DovTn,  Ireland, 
a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Glasgow,  and  became  the 
ancestor  of  the  family  of  celebrated  teachers  of  his  name  in 
the  State.  There  being  no  service  held  for  years  in  St. 
James'  Church,  he  was  invited  to  preach  there,  which  he 
continued  to  do  till  1795,  and  afterwards  held  alternate 
service  there  with  the  minister. 

In  1785,  devout  people  of  Wilmington  desiring  some  form 
of  public  worship  and  religious  service,  turned  to  those  who 
could  assist  them,  and  an  act  was  passed  (chapter  35,  1785) 
empowering  John  Hill,  Thomas  Wright,  John  Huske,  Thomas 
Maclaine,  Robert  Wells,  John  Bradley,  and  James  Read, 
Esqrs.  (Episcopal  families),  to  receive  donations  and  be- 
quests that  had  been  made  for  the  use  of  a  congregation  of 
the  Presbyterian  communion,  and  legally  apply  the  same  for 
the  purchasing  of  ground  and  the  erection  of  a  Presbyterian 
church  or  house  of  worship. 

From  this  inception,  that  congregation  grew,  continuing 
their  services  in  old  St.  James'  Church,  alternating  during 
the  incumbency  of  Doctor  Hailing  and  Mr.  Empie. 

In  May,  1818,  the  lot  on  the  east  side  of  Front  Street, 
opposite  the  present  city  market,  between  Dock  and  Orange 
Streets,  was  purchased,  and  a  building  erected,  the  corner- 
stone being  laid  by  the  Masons,  but  it  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  1819.  It  was,  however,  rebuilt  and  finished  in  1821. 
The  remains  of  the  old  session  room,  back  of  the  church, 
built  in  1840,  can  still  be  seen  from  Front  Street.  On  April 
13,  1859,  the  top  of  the  steeple  caught  fire  from  a  spark 
blown  by  a  high  wind  from  a  furnace.  It  was  inaccessible 
and  beyond  the  reach  of  the  fire  engine,  and  crowds  of 
people  stood  watching  the  blaze,  fanned  by  the  strong  wind, 


PEACE  RESTORED  539 

slowly  creep  down  the  spire,  till,  wrapped  in  flames,  it  fell 
crashing  upon  the  roof  and  the  building  was  doomed. 

The  present  church,  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Orange 
Streets,  was  finished  in  1861,  and  is  still  an  ornament  to  the 
city.  It  stands  on  what  was  called  the  "Thunder-and-Light- 
ning  Lot,"  because  of  an  old  stable  which  once  stood  on  this 
lot,  and  which  was  frequently  struck  by  lightning,  and  even 
after  the  church  was  built  there,  its  spire  was  repeatedly 
damaged  by  lightning.  Since  the  town  has  been  strung  with 
electric  wires  these  powers  of  the  elements  are  no  longer 
manifested. 

The  first  Baptist  congregation  in  Cape  Fear  was  called  the 
New  Lights;  they  came  along  our  coast  from  ISTew  England 
and  Wew  Jersey.  They  were  fishermen,  toiling  with  their 
nets  by  day,  preaching  in  their  camps  at  night,  and  holding 
meetings  on  Sunday.  As  early  as  1762  they  had  strong 
settlements  in  Lockwood's  Folly,  and  at  Shallotte.  In  other 
parts  of  the  Province  the  Baptists  were  very  numerous,  hav- 
ing come  at  a  much  earlier  period  direct  from  England. 
Their  handsome  church  in  our  city,  with  its  beautiful  spire, 
which  would  do  credit  to  any  city  in  the  world,  shows  the 
rapid  growth  of  this  sect  in  our  conununity. 

The  Wilmington  Methodists  can  claim  the  honor  of  having 
had  the  Kev.  Mr.  Whitefield  to  preach  to  them  as  early  as 
1760,  in  St.  James'  Church.  This  sermon.  Governor  Tryon 
remarked,  was  worthy  to  be  preached  in  the  King's  Chapel, 
in  London.  We  find  a  deed  on  record,  in  1791,  in  which 
Mrs.  Ann  Sophia  Hasell,  the  widow  of  the  late  Chief  Justice 
Hasell,  conveys  six  acres  of  land  on  Cabbage  Inlet  Sound  to 
William  Meredith,  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  and  one  froni  Wil- 
liam Campbell,  for  a  lot  in  Wilmington  at  the  comer  of 
Second  and  Walnut  Streets,  to  erect  a  building  to  the  worship 
of  Almighty  God.  The  full  lot,  extending  to  Front  Street, 
was  subsequently  acquired  by  the  congregation.  Here  the 
Methodist  church  was  built,  and  the  congregation  was  at 
first  mainly  composed  of  negroes ;  the  whites,  being  few,  made 
use  of  the  gallery.  This  church  was  burned  by  the  fire  of 
1884,  which  swept  away  a  large  part  of  the  town. 


640  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Grace  Chm-cli,  on  Mulberry  Street,  is  now  tlie  pride  of  the 
Methodist  denomination. 

The  Quakers  were  once  established  here  in  early  days,  but 
their  quiet  and  unobtrusive  ways  ha^'e  left  us  only  a  gTave- 
yard  and  no  other  record  of  their  labors.  There  they  will  lie 
till  the  Spirit  moves  them  on  the  great  day. 

This  block  where  their  graveyard  stands  was  on  part  of 
a  tract  belonging  to  the  Campbell  heirs  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  city.  They  respected  the  lot  and  would  not  sell  it,  and 
finally  deeded  it  to  the  city  of  Wilmington.  The  city  estab- 
lished in  the  center  of  this  lot  a  negro  public  school,  and 
deeded  the  four  corners  of  the  block  to  four  negro  denomina- 
tions, who  have  erected  churches  for  themselves  upon  the 
property. 

The  establishment  of  the  first  Roman  Catholic  church  here 
was  of  later  years.  Two  daughters  of  Mr.  James  Usher 
were  educated  in  St.  Joseph's  Convent,  at  Emmitsburg, 
Maryland,  and  became  converted  to  that  faith.  One  of  them 
became  a  nun.  The  other  returned  home  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  practicing  her  faith  by  her  works,  and  devoted  much 
thought  and  energy  to  the  upbuilding  of  her  adopted  church 
in  Wilmington.  She  corresponded  with  the  Eev.  John  Eng- 
land, the  eminent  Bishop  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  in 
Charleston,  invited  priests  to  Wilmington,  had  services 
in  her  parlors  for  the  poor  laborers  of  the  town,  and  finally  a 
fund  was  raised  and  a  lot  on  Dock  Street  was  purchased  in 
the  name  of  Wm.  A.  Berry,  Barney  Baxter,  and  others  in 
trust,  and  the  Church  of  St.  Thomas  was  erected.  One  of 
the  most  consecrated  adherents  and  supporters  was  the  late 
Mrs.  Catherine  Fulton,  who  all  her  life  was  a  devoted  Cath- 
olic. The  Roman  Catholics  now  have  a  fine  cathedral  in  the 
city. 


PEACE  RESTORED  541 

THE  NEW  CUSTOM  HOUSE. 

The  first  Government  building  at  Wilmington,  the  custom 
house,  was  built  in  1846.  It  contained  the  postoffice,  the 
Federal  Court  room,  and  the  offices  of  the  collector.  In  1891 
a  new  postoffice  building  was  erected.  Now  a  new  custom 
house  is  being  built. 

In  the  year  1902  a  bill  was  introduced  in  Congress  to  make 
New  Bern  the  principal  port  of  North  Carolina  and  Wil- 
mington subsidiary  thereto.  Whatever  may  have  been  the 
purpose  of  this  action,  it  was  foUowed  by  an  immediate 
revival  of  the  commerce  of  Wilmington  as  the  chief  port  of 
North  Carolina.  One  of  the  arguments  in  favor  of  New  Bern 
was  the  fact  that  the  Wilmington  custom  house  was  not  pay- 
ing the  cost  to  the  Government  of  its  expenses ;  the  salary  of 
the  coUector,  B.  F.  Keith,  being  then  $1,000,  with  commis- 
sions increasing  it  to  $1,400  or  $1,500.  Now  the  salary  is 
$2,500,  and  a  balance  over  and  above  all  expenses  has  been  re- 
turned to  the  Treasury  Department  for  several  years. 

In  1903,  the  aggregate  receipts  of  the  Wilmington  custom 
house  were  $4,760,  the  value  of  exports  $14,966,754,  and 
the  imports  were  $290,822.  The  cost  to  the  Government  to 
collect  $1.00  was  $1.41.  In  the  year  1913  the  ag'gregate 
receipts  were  $24,934,  the  value  of  exports  $19,510,926,  and 
the  imports  were  $3,460,419.  The  cost  to  the  Government 
to  collect  $1.00  was  $0.26. 

From  the  above  it  appears  that  the  receipts  of  the  port  of 
Wilmington  have  increased  423  per  cent,  the  value  of  exports 
has  increased  30  per  cent,  and  the  value  of  imports  1,089  per 
cent  within  ten  years.  The  collector  of  the  port  during  nearly 
all  of  that  time  was  B.  F.  Keith,  who  has  recently  resigned, 
and  his  successor,  Col.  Walker  Taylor,  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Wilson,  has  assumed  charge.  A  good  account  will  be 
given  of  him,  for  he  is  one  of  our  foremost  men  of  a  pro- 
gressive age.  Of  the  former  incumbent  there  is  much  to  be 
said,  particularly  with  respect  to  his  sagacity  and  industry 
in  carrying  to  a  successful  issue  his  scheme,  supported  by  our 
commercial  people,  for  a  new  Federal  building  and  extensive 


542  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

grounds  in  keeping  with  the  dignity  of  the  port  of  Wil- 
mington. 

Collector  Keith  first  persuaded  the  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury to  purchase  the  adjacent  property,  from  the  present  cus- 
tom house  building  to  Princess  Street  up  to  Wright's  Alley. 
He  then  showed  the  Secretary  a  sketch  which  indicated  the 
ground  purchased  surrounded  by  dilapidated  buildings,  de- 
tracting from  the  value  of  the  location.  This  led  the  Secre- 
tary to  send  several  special  agents  to  Wilmington,  and  they 
reported  favorably  upon  the  collector's  suggestion  that  the 
Government  purchase  all  of  the  property  from  Princess  Street 
to  Market  Street,  from  Wright's  Alley  back  to  the  river  wharf, 
including  a  portion  of  the  wharf  owned  by  the  Kuck  and  the 
Calder  estates,  which  gives  us  one  of  the  most  desirable  plots 
for  a  new  custom  house  at  the  very  small  cost  of  $69,000,  the 
present  value  of  which  is  estimated  at  more  than  double  that 
sum. 

When  this  ground  was  purchased  the  appropriation  for  a 
new  building  was  $300,000,  although  Collector  Keith  had 
asked  for  $500,000.  There  was  a  forlorn  hope  that  an  urgent 
appeal  through  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and  other  com- 
mercial interests  might  result  in  the  recovery  of  the  $200,000 
which  had  been  cut  off.  Mr.  Keith  with  other  representa- 
tives hastened  to  Washington  and  accomplished  the  restora- 
tion by  the  committee  of  the  $200,000,  making  the  appropria- 
tion $500,000.  Two  days  later  it  was  again  cut  down  by  a 
sinister  influence,  it  was  said,  to  $300,000,  but  when  the  next 
Congress  convened  Mr.  Keith  returned  to  the  attack,  and  by 
persistent,  dogged  determination,  after  three  years  of  constant 
effort,  he  succeeded  in  getting  $600,000  in  all  for  the  new 
custom  house  and  the  decoration  of  the  grounds. 

In  his  retirement  to  private  life  with  clean  hands,  Mr. 
Keith  is  entitled  to  the  commendation  of  well  done  by  an 
appreciative  public. 


PEACE  RESTORED  543 

WILMrnGTOlvT  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

In  every  community  there  are  builders  of  character,  and 
the  building  is  based  on  the  gold,  silver,  and  precious  stones 
of  love  and  sacrifice.  That  great  apostle  of  education.  Lord 
Brougham,  has  said :  "It  is  with  unspeakable  delight  that  I 
contemplate  the  rich  gifts  that  have  been  bestowed,  the  honest 
zeal  displayed,  by  private  persons  for  the  benefit  of  their 
fellow  creatures.  How  many  persons  do  I  myself  know  to 
whom  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  there  are  men  without  em- 
ployment, children  uneducated,  suflerers  in  prison,  victims 
of  disease,  wretches  pining  in  want,  and  straightway  they 
will  abandon  all  other  pursuits,  as  if  they  themselves  had  not 
large  families  to  provide  for,  and  toil  for  days  and  for  nights, 
stolen  from  their  most  necessary  avocations,  to  feed  the  hun- 
gry, clothe  the  naked,  and  shed  upon  the  children  of  the  poor 
that  inestimable  blessing  of  education,  which  alone  gave  them- 
selves the  wish  and  the  power  to  relieve  their  fellow-men." 

I  have  said  of  one  of  our  citizens,  who  had  presented  his 
body  a  living  sacrifice  for  others,  that  his  greatest  and  most 
effective  work  was  that  in  the  cause  of  education  by  public 
schools. 

In  his  earnest,  quiet,  unobtrusive  way,  he  became  one 
of  the  pillars  of  this  noble  work  of  the  State  in  Wilmington, 
and  his  chief  characteristics — virtue,  intelligence,  decision, 
industry,  perseverance,  and  economy — ^were  brought  to  bear 
upon  this  great  enterprise  with  such  far-reaching  results  that 
eternity  alone  can  reveal  their  extent.  He  honestly  regarded 
public  office  as  a  public  trust,  and  carefully  fulfilled  his  obli- 
gations with  unflagging  zeal  and  painstaking  economy.  His 
business  life  and  studious  habits  preserved  his  mind  in  vigor- 
ous and  healthful  action.  He  made  a  constant  study  of  popu- 
lar education,  and  mastered  its  problems  in  each  successive 
stage. 

Prof.  John  J.  Blair,  who  has  been  for  nearly  fifteen  years 
our  capable  Superintendent  of  City  Schools,  has  kindly  pre- 
pared for  these  Chronicles  a  narrative  of  the  development  of 
popular  education  in  Wilmington. 


544  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Preliminary  to  bis  article,  the  Avriter  gives  some  account 
of  earlier  schools. 

That  there  were  some  educational  facilities  on  the  river 
from  the  first  settlement  may  be  gathered  from  the  will  of 
John  Baptista  Ashe,  made  in  1734,  in  which  be  directed  that 
bis  sons  should  have  a  liberal  education.  "And  in  their  edu- 
cation I  pray  my  executors  to  observe  this  method:  Let 
them  be  taught  to  read  and  write,  and  be  introduced  into  the 
practical  part  of  arithmetic,  not  too  hastily  hurrying  them  to 
Latin  or  grammar;  but  after  they  are  pretty  well  versed  in 
these,  let  them  be  taught  Latin  and  Greek.  I  propose  that 
this  may  be  done  in  Virginia,  after  which  let  them  learn 
French.  Perhaps  some  Frenchman  at  Santee  will  under- 
take this.  When  they  are  arrived  to  years  of  discretion,  let 
them  study  the  mathematics.  I  will  that  my  daughter  be 
taught  to  read  and  write  and  some  feminine  accomplishment 
which  may  render  her  agreeable,  and  that  she  be  not  kept 
ignorant  as  to  what  appertains  to  a  good  housewife  in  the 
management  of  household  affairs." 

In  1745  there  was  a  school  taught  at  Brunswick,  and  in 
1749  the  Legislature  appropriated  £6,000  to  establish  a  free 
school,  but  during  the  Indian  war  the  money  was  used  for  war 
purposes.  In  1754  another  appropriation  was  made,  but  the 
act  was  not  approved  in  England.  In  1759,  John  Ashe,  as 
chairman  of  a  committee,  brought  in  an  address  to  the  King, 
praying  that  a  part  of  a  certain  fund  should  be  laid  out  in 
purchasing  glebes  and  in  establishing  free  schools  in  each 
county,  but  that  money  was  to  come  from  an  issue  of  notes, 
and  there  was  some  slight  objection  to  the  form  of  the  notes 
which  the  Governor  did  not  communicate  to  the  Assembly. 
Frequent  application  was  made,  even  up  to  1765,  but  the 
objection  not  having  been  communicated  to  the  Assembly,  it 
was  never  removed. 

In  1760,  Kev.  James  Tate,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  opened 
a  classical  school  at  Wilmington;  and  in  1785  Rev.  William 
Bingham  began  his  famous  school  here.  About  1800  the 
Innes  Academy  was  finished.  The  first  teacher  was  Eev. 
Dr.  Hailing.     A  daughter  of  Doctor  Hailing  married  a  mer- 


PEACE  RESTORED  545 

chant  of  the  town,  Mr,  Usher,  and  their  daughter  became  the 
wife  of  Dr.  W.  A.  Berry.  After  a  few  years  service,  Doctor 
Hailing  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Rogers.  Mr.  Eogers  had  been 
a  midshipman  in  the  is'avy.  The  vessel  on  which  he  was 
employed  was  dismantled  at  Wilming-ton,  and  he  sought  em- 
ployment as  a  teacher.  After  some  years,  he  moved  to  Hills- 
boro,  where  he  married  a  daughter  of  Col.  William  Shep- 
perd,  and  had  a  famous  school  until  he  removed  to  Tennessee. 
He  was  succeeded  at  the  Innes  Academy  by  Rev.  Adam 
Empie,  rector  of  St.  James,  at  one  time  chaplain  at  West 
Point,  a  man  of  fine  culture,  whose  volume  of  published  ser- 
mons entitles  him  to  fame.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Judge 
Wright,  and  was  the  father  of  Adam  Empie,  Esq. 

Other  teachers  at  the  "Old  Academy"  were  Rev.  Mr.  La- 
throp.  Captain  Mitchell,  who  had  been  a  sea  captain ;  Messrs. 
Hartshorn,  Lowry,  Joy,  Wilkes,  and  Burke. 

Shortly  before  the  war,  among  other  schools  at  Wilmington 
were  Maginney's  Institute,  Radcliffe's  Military  Academy, 
and  Jewett's  School ;  and  for  girls  there  were  the  high  school 
kept  by  Rev.  Mr.  Backus,  and  the  fine  school  of  the  Misses 
Burr  and  James.  After  the  war,  the  latter  was  reopened; 
and  the  wife  of  Gen.  Robert  Ransom  had  a  finishing  school, 
while  General  Colston  for  years  kept  a  fine  military  academy. 


PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

By  Prop.  John  J.  Blair. 

A  history  of  education  in  the  Cape  Fear  section  is,  of 
course,  similar  to  and  in  accordance  with  the  State's  educa- 
tional policy,  modified  to  a  certain  extent  by  local  influences 
and  needs,  and  ideas  of  individuals. 

In  1825,  a  "Literary  Fund"  was  created,  the  author  of  the 
bill  providing  for  this  being  Bartlett  Yancey,  but  it  was  not 
until  1839  that  the  first  bill  providing  for  free  schools  in  every 
county  was  passed.^ 

iDr.  Frederick  Hill,  of  Orton,  was  a  strong  advocate  of  public 
education  and  was  one  of  the  authors  of  the  legislation  on  the 
subject,  and  was  called  in  "Wilmington  "the  father  of  public  schools." 


546  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Between  1840  and  1850  a  more  elaborate  system  of  schools 
was  put  in  operation,  but  for  lack  of  one  responsible  head, 
and  lack  of  uniformity  of  administration,  chaos  and  failure 
resulted/ 

Decade  of  1850  to  1860. 

The  educational  history  of  our  State  from  1850,  extending 
over  a  period  of  the  next  sixteen  years,  centers  around  the 
character  and  deeds  of  one  man,  Dr.  Calvin  H.  Wiley.  He 
was  elected  in  December,  1852,  and  on  January  1,  1853,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-four  years,  assumed  the  duties  of  this  newly- 
made  and  responsible  office,  under  the  title  of  "Superintend- 
ent of  Common  Schools." 

He  began  at  once  many  needed  reforms,  and  made  provi- 
sion by  which  teachers  could  be  prepared  and  secured  for  the 
work. 

An  extract  from  Doctor  Joyner's  address  at  the  unveiling 
of  a  monument  to  Calvin  H.  Wiley  in  Winston  in  1904  can 
not  be  too  often  repeated  in  connection  with  this  notable  ad- 
ministration. The  speaker  said :  "Under  his  shaping  hand, 
the  system  grew  and  improved  and  the  schools  prospered 
until  it  could  be  truthfully  said  at  the  beginning  of  the  War 
between  the  States  that  Worth  Carolina  had  the  best  system  of 
common  schools  in  the  South."  Mr.  Wiley  continued  to  hold 
the  office  of  superintendent  until  it  was  abolished  in  1866. 

The  Union  Free  School. 

In  addition  to  the  schools  of  the  town  of  Wilmington  there 
were,  in  the  county.  New  Hanover  Academy,  1833 ;  Rock 
Fish  Academy,  1834 ;  Black  Creek  Female  Institution,  1846 ; 
and  there  were  schools  at  Rocky  Point  constantly  from  1846 
at  least  to  1850;  Topsail,  1851;  Union  (at  Harrell's  Store), 
1854 ;  Rocky  Point,  186Y. 

The  name  Union  was  applied  to  any  school  in  which  pri- 
vate and  public  interests  were  united  in  accordance  with  an 
act  of  the  General  Assembly. 

iThere  was  cooperation,  the  State  furnishing  a  part  and  the  people 
of  the  district  a  part  of  the  fund. 


PEACE  RESTORED  547 

In  a  letter  writteii  to  Silas  ^N".  Martin  by  John  W.  Barnes, 
a  history'  of  the  Union  Free  School  from  1856  to  1862  is 
given: 

"A  meeting  of  citizens  was  held  in  the  snmmer  of  1856  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  'Oaks/  and  it  was  decided  to  raise  the  nec- 
essary money  and  material  for  the  purchase  of  a  lot  and  the 
construction  of  a  building.  The  deed  was  executed  Novem- 
ber 3,  1856,  to  James  Green,  John  Barnes,  and  Thomas 
Freshwater,  as  trustees,  and  the  same  recorded  December  31st. 

''In  April,  1857,  a  meeting  of  the  subscribers  was  held  in 
the  new  building,  in  which  it  was  decided  to  start  the  school 
the  first  of  May,  and  to  continue  three  months  experimentally. 
Mr.  Martin,  Mr.  Van  Bokkelen,  and  Mr.  Fanning  were  ap- 
pointed to  employ  a  teacher  and  put  the  Union  Free  School 
in  operation.  The  Board  of  Superintendents  of  Common 
Schools  for  New  Hanover  cooperated  with  the  committee, 
whereby  they  received  the  benefit  of  all  the  funds  appro- 
priated, which  arrangement  existed  until  July  1,  1863,  a 
period  of  six  years.  The  schoolhouse  originally  seated  one 
hundred  pupils.  In  1859  a  room  capable  of  holding  forty 
scholars  was  added."  The  letter  states  further:  "On  account 
of  the  absence  of  Mr.  Martin  from  the  State  in  1862,  Mr.  B. 
G.  Worth  was  appointed  his  successor,  and  nobly  sustained 
the  school  from  his  private  means  in  connection  with  the 
amount  received  from  the  common  school  fund. 

"The  largest  enrollment  at  one  time  was  one  hundred  and 
forty-five,  and  the  smallest  about  one  hundred,  this  being  the 
number  for  the  summer  months  of  June  and  July." 

Decade  1870-1880 — ^Wilmington's  Free  Public  School 
System. 

In  the  case  of  every  great  enterprise  or  achievement,  in- 
terest in  its  first  beginning  increases  with  the  passing  of  the 
years,  while  personal  knowledge  and  first-hand  information 
concerning  the  event  diminishes  proportionately  with  each 
generation.  At  this  present  time,  when  the  city's  rapid 
growth  and  increase  in  population  make  the  expansion  and 
36 


548  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

enlargement  of  her  school  accommodations  imperative,  in- 
quiry is  frequently  made  concerning  the  origin  of  this  most 
important  and  vital  enterprise.  So  closely  and  intimately 
was  the  work  of  Miss  Amy  Morris  Bradley  interwoven  with 
our  early  public  school  system,  that  her  labors  should  always 
receive  the  public  recognition  which  is  justly  due. 

1.  Her  influence  and  suggestion  are  responsible  for  the 
name  which  the  Hemenway  and  Union  Schools  bear. 

2.  There  was  never  any  conflict  between  her  private  in- 
terest and  the  community's  public  interest. 

3.  The  trained  and  skillful  teachers  whom  she  gathered 
around  her  in  turn  trained  others,  who  incorporated  into  the 
public  schools  the  best  and  most  modern  methods  of  in- 
struction. 

4.  Her  schools  were  recognized  by  the  State,  for  in  the 
year  1870  she  received  from  the  State  fund  $1,266.71. 

5.  The  Union  School  house,  in  which  was  taught  the 
Tileston  j^ormal  School,  composed  from  the  Union  Grammar 
School,  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  county  in  October,  1871, 
when  the  new  brick  Tileston  building  was  opened. 

6.  This  building,  in  turn,  by  a  deed  of  gift,  became  the 
property  of  the  City  of  Wilmington  in  1901,  through  the 
mediation  of  Mr.  Jas.  H.  Chadbourn,  a  personal  friend  of 
Mrs.  Hemenway  and  for  many  years  chairman  of  the  Joint 
School  Committee  of  the  City  of  Wilmington. 

A  large  bronze  tablet  at  the  entrance  bears  the  following 
inscription : 

Tileston  Memorial  School 

Built  by 
Mary  Hemenway  of  Boston, 
Who  established  herein  a  school  for  the  White  People  of  this  com- 
munity in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  seventy-one  and  main- 
tained the  same  at  her  own  cost  for  twenty  years  under  the  devoted 
administration  of 
AMY  MORRIS   BRADLEY. 
Given  to 
The  City  of  Wilmington 
In  the  Year  Nineteen  Hundred  and  One, 
in  the  name  of 
MARY  HEMENWAY. 


PEACE  RESTORED  549 

Accordingly,  on  the  9th  day  of  October,  1872,  the  old 
Union  and  Hemenway  buildings  were  abandoned,  turned  over 
to  the  Free  School  Committee,  and  the  schools  were  combined 
and  established  under  the  name  of  the  Tileston  Normal  School 
in  the  new  brick  structure.  The  comer  stone  had  been  laid 
with  considerable  ceremony,  !N^ovember  31,  1871,  and  the 
building  was  erected  under  the  supervision  of  James  Walker, 
builder,  of  Wilmington,  at  a  cost  of  $30,000. 

This  school  continued  in  popular  favor  until  the  summer 
of  1886.  During  all  this  period  $5,000  a  year  was  donated 
by  Mrs.  Hemenway  for  support  and  maintenance.  This 
amount,  together  with  a  small  tuition  fee,  afforded  ample 
funds  to  carry  on  the  work. 

When  the  decade  of  1870  to  1880  dawned  upon  the  people 
of  iSTorth  Carolina,  interference  on  the  part  of  the  U.  S.  Gov- 
ernment with  the  affairs  which  rightfully  belong  to  a  State 
had  begun  to  disappear.  There  was  deep  gratification  at  the 
improved  condition  of  affairs,  and  the  large  gain  made  by 
friends  of  the  South  in  Congress  was  also  a  source  of  en- 
couragement. Energy  and  industry  were  fast  removing  the 
traces  of  the  war,  and  individuals  bravely  struggled  to  restore 
their  shattered  fortunes.  During  this  decade  a  change  of 
sentiment  began  to  be  felt  in  New  Hanover  County  in  regard 
to  the  attitude  of  the  people  toward  free  public  education. 
Previous  to  this  time  "well-to-do  people"  and  those  who 
are  usually  spoken  of  as  "socially  prominent,"  entirely  ig- 
nored and  disregarded  the  free  public  schools.  The  very 
name  seemed  to  carry  some  reproach  with  it.  In  fact,  until 
comparatively  recent  times,  the  boast  of  attending  a  "pay 
school"  was  thought  to  carry  with  it  a  mark  of  certain 
personal  distinction. 

For  the  year  1870  and  1871  a  reference  to  the  free  schools 
of  the  city  is  made  in  a  letter  to  the  commissioners  of  New 
Hanover  County  by  James  H.  Chadbourn,  William  T.  Carr, 
and  William  A.  French.  They  say:  "In  the  first  communi- 
cation you  were  informed  that  there  were  no  schoolhouses 
within  the  limits  of  the  township  belonging  to  the  State  or 
county. 


550  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

"The  committee  subsequently,  with  the  approval  of  the 
Board  and  the  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  pur- 
chased the  Hemenway  schoolhouse  of  Miss  Amy  M.  Bradley 
for  $3,000,  with  the  promise  on  her  part  that  the  money  she 
received  from  it  should  be  expended  in  continuing  her  two 
schools,  then  in  successful  operation. 

"The  cost  of  sustaining  the  Hemenway  and  Union  Schools 
for  the  last  two  years  has  been  $10,850.40— $1,266.70  from 
the  State,  $2,500  from  the  Peabody  Fund,  $3,000  from  sale 
of  the  Hemenway  schoolhouse,  and  the  balance,  $4,083.70, 
from  the  friends  of  Miss  Bradley  and  her  work. 

"It  seems  to  the  committee  that  the  beneficial  influence  of 
these  schools  for  the  young  of  the  city  can  not  be  overesti- 
mated." 

The  Wilmington  Post  of  April  11,  1872,  gives  an  account 
of  the  visit  of  the  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction, 
Alexander  Mclver,  at  this  time,  to  the  City  of  Wilmington. 
It  says :  "Mr.  Mclver  comes  to  the  work  of  educating  the 
masses  and  the  establishment  of  free  schools  throughout  the 
State  of  ISTorth  Carolina.  His  desire  now  is  to  interest  the 
public  in  the  work.  He  desires  that  united  effort  be  made 
at  once,  so  as  to  secure  some  complete  system  for  the  success- 
ful establishment  of  free  schools  in  the  City  of  Wilmington, 
by  the  city,  as  provided  in  its  charter  amended  in  1868." 

Decade  of  1880-1890 — Origin  and  Development  of  the 
Wilmington  System. 

This  sketch  would  not  be  complete  without  a  reference  to 
the  campaign  of  enlightenment  carried  on  under  the  direction 
of  the  Legislature,  by  Dr.  E.  A.  Alderman  and  C.  D.  Mclver. 
They  met  the  teachers  in  every  county  in  the  State  and  taught 
them  how  to  teach.  They  held  public  meetings  and  educa- 
tional rallies.  They  made  eloquent  speeches.  They  urged 
the  people  to  vote  taxes  to  support  schools. 

Since  this  notable  campaign,  educational  progress  in  North 
Carolina  has  been  easier. 


PEACE  RESTORED  551 

Information  with  regard  to  the  two  free  public  schools, 
Union  and  Hemenway,  between  1872  and  1882,  is  compara- 
tively vague  and  indefinite.  The  year  1882,  however,  marked 
the  beginning  of  an  effective  organization  with  an  executive 
head,  whose  office  was  that  of  Superintendent  of  City  Public 
Schools,  and  the  system  then  began  to  assume  a  different 
aspect  as  a  factor  in  the  educational  life  of  the  city. 

The  situation  is  best  described  by  the  Superintendent  him- 
self, Mr,  M.  C.  S.  Noble,  who  was  elected  in  the  summer  of 
1882  to  this  responsible  office.  Previous  to  this  the  authority 
over  the  two  white  and  colored  districts  was  vested  in  the 
county  superintendent.  It  does  not  take  a  vivid  imagination 
to  see  the  situation  as  it  appeared  to  him  at  that  time.  In 
referring  to  his  first  visit  to  the  schools,  he  says:  "I  pic- 
tured to  myself  large,  imposing  buildings,  situated  in  well- 
kept  gTounds,  when  our  buggy  stopped  in  deep  sand  out  in 
front  of  the  old  Union  School  on  Sixth  Street  between  ISTun 
and  Church,  and  just  in  the  rear  of  Fifth  Street  Methodist 
Church.  It  contained  three  rooms,  and  had  a  seating  capa- 
city of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pupils.  There  were  three 
teachers,  and  the  average  attendance  was  one  hundred. 
Lastly,  we  went  to  the  Hemenway,  then  situated  on  the  lot 
directly  south  of  St.  Andrew's  Church  on  Fourth  Street.  It 
was  a  little  cottage-looking  affair,  with  four  rooms,  a  seating 
capacity  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  pupils,  and  an  aver- 
age attendance  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five." 

The  growth  of  the  enterprise  is  noted  by  a  comparison  of 
this  early  report  with  that  made  by  the  Superintendent  of 
Schools  for  the  year  1886:  "JSTumber  of  children  in  school, 
White,  2,051,  Colored,  3,209,  Total,  5,260.  Average  monthly 
enrollment.  White,  444,  Colored,  757,  Total,  1,201.  Average 
daily  attendance.  White,  363,  Colored,  550,  Total,  913." 

This  report  also  states  that  there  were  at  this  time  575  white 
children  enrolled  in  the  Tileston  IsTormal  School, 

The  school  committees  consisted  of  the  following:  District 
E'o.  1,  Donald  MacRae,  chairman,  Wm.  M.  Parker,  Jos.  E. 
Sampson;  District  No.  2,  Jas.  H.  Chadboum,  chairman, 
Walker  Meares,  John  G.  Norwood, 


552  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

In  the  paragraph  on  "School  Buildings"  there  appears  this 
reference:  "The  Hemenwaj  Building  for  whites  is  well  ar- 
ranged and  well  supplied  with  comfortable  seats.  The  Union 
Building  in  White  District  iSTo.  2,  is  comfortable,  but  in  every 
other  respect  it  is  entirely  unfit  for  school  purposes.  After 
many  years  of  waiting  and  vexatious  delay,  the  committee 
hope  to  have  a  handsome  building  ready  for  occupancy  next 
fall."  His  wish  was  realized,  as  the  following  extract  shows : 
"In  1886,  the  pupils  were  moved  from  the  old  school  into 
the  handsome  new  Union  Building  at  the  northwest  corner  of 
Sixth  and  Ann.  It  contained  eight  large  schoolrooms  and  a 
beautiful  hall." 

In  the  spring  of  1891  the  fire  alarm  sounded  "48,"  and  it 
was  the  Union  School  on  fire.  It  had  caught  from  a  defect- 
ive flue  and  burned  to  the  ground.  The  new  Union  was  built 
upon  the  foundation  of  the  old  one,  and  on  the  first  Monday 
of  the  following  October  the  new  building,  as  you  see  it  today, 
was  occupied.  In  1889,  a  building  like  the  Union  was  built 
upon  a  lot  running  through  from  Fifth  to  Sixth,  between 
Chestnut  and  Walnut,  which  had  been  purchased  through  the 
earnest  advice  of  Mr.  Horace  Bagg. 

On  Saturday  night  early  in  the  summer  vacation  of  1897, 
some  one  set  fire  to  the  new  Hemenway,  and  the  next  Sunday 
morning  this  beautiful  building  was  a  mass  of  smoking  ruins. 
This  school  was  at  once  rebuilt,  and  turned  over  ready  for 
the  opening  on  the  first  Monday  in  October  in  this  year. 

Decade  1890-1900 — Growth  of  the  High  School  Idea. 

The  high  school  as  an  organic  part  of  the  public  school  sys- 
tem had  its  origin  at  a  very  recent  date.  Previous  to  1890 
most  of  the  graded  school  reports  showed  only  provision  for 
primary  and  grammar  grades. 

The  superintendent's  report  for  Wilmington,  1886,  shows 
a  provision  for  six  grades  only.  ]^o  reference  is  made  in  this 
report  to  a  high  school.  It  was  evidently  intended  that  the 
private  schools  which  had  flourished  in  the  towns  and  cities 
for  a  long  time  should  take  care  of  advanced  work,  and  in  fact 


PEACE  RESTORED  553 

by  many  it  seemed  to  be  regarded  as  their  rightful  heritage 
and  possession. 

There  was  during  this  decade  an  aggressive  opposition  to 
the  j)ublic  high  school  idea.  In  Raleigh,  so  determined  was 
this  opposition,  in  the  interest  of  the  existing  academy,  that 
some  of  its  citizens  had  a  law  passed  forbidding  the  teaching 
of  high  school  subjects  in  the  public  schools.  Later,  the 
Raleigh  Academy  gave  way  to  the  high  school,  its  principal 
becoming  the  principal  of  the  high  school. 

In  Wilmington  the  idea  began  to  take  shape  in  the  mind  of 
the  superintendent  soon  after  the  schools  were  moved  into  the 
new  Hemenway  and  Union  School  Buildings,  for  he  began 
gradually  to  add  high  school  subjects  and  thus  to  enrich  the 
course  of  study. 

The  school  committees  with  prophetic  vision  saw  the  neces- 
sity for  it  in  order  to  close  up  the  gap  between  the  grammar 
school  and  the  State  University.  As  evidence  of  their  faith 
in  it,  they  bought  at  this  time  a  lot  at  the  corner  of  Third 
and  Market  Streets,  where  the  Colonial  Inn  now  stands,  and 
moved  the  advanced  classes  from  the  lower  schools  into  the 
little  one-story  schoolhouse  just  south  of  the  courthouse,  on 
Third  Street. 

This  remained  Wilmington's  high  school  until  the  year 
1897,  when  the  advanced  classes  from  the  Hemenway,  Union, 
and  Third  Street  Schools,  numbering  in  all  one  hundred, 
with  four  teachers  in  charge,  moved  into  the  Tileston  ISTormal 
Building.  The  city  came  into  control  of  this  building 
through  a  lease  obtained  through  the  personal  efforts  of  Mr. 
Jas.  H.  Chadbourn,  then  chairman  of  the  joint  committee. 
The  following  May  the  first  graduating  exercises  were  held 
and  certificates  were  given  to  three  girl  graduates.  Each  year 
there  were  gratifying  increases.  The  class  of  1914  numbered 
30,  bringing  the  total  number  of  graduates  up  to  315.  In 
1910,  nine  more  rooms  were  added,  and  a  faculty  of  fourteen 
teachers  and  a  principal  employed. 


654  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

1900-1914. 

Mr.  John  J.  Blair  succeeded  Mr.  Noble  as  superintendent, 
January  5,  1899.  A  few  leading  events  of  this  period  are 
enumerated  below : 

In  1901,  by  deed  of  gift,  the  Tileston  Building  and  half 
of  that  city  block  became  the  property  of  the  City  of  Wil- 
mington. 

In  1904:  an  addition  of  fourteen  rooms  was  made  to  the 
Union  School,  and  just  previous  to  this,  eight  rooms  were 
built  to  the  Hemenway. 

In  1909  a  local  tax  of  fifteen  cents  on  the  one  hundred  dol- 
lars valuation  was  voted  by  the  entire  county,  and  New  Han- 
over was  the  first  county  to  become  a  special  tax  district. 

In  1910,  under  an  enactment  of  Congress,  eleven  city 
blocks  of  land  back  of  the  Marine  Hospital  were  secured  by 
the  Board  of  Education  for  park  and  school  purposes. 

In  1911  the  gift  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Sam  Bear  of  a  beautiful 
brick  school  building  afforded  a  valuable  and  much-needed 
addition  to  the  equipment  of  the  system. 

The  schools  have  increased  proportionately  with  the  grovTth 
of  the  city,  so  that  the  enrollment  has  reached  the  grand  total 
of  four  thousand,  nearly  three  thousand  of  whom  are  white 
children. 

The  faculty  in  charge  now  numbers  nearly  one  hundred 
persons. 

Fortunately,  the  management  of  the  schools  has  been  in 
the  hands  of  capable  and  conservative  business  men,  and  to 
serve  on  the  County  Board  of  Education  or  on  either  one  of 
the  committees  of  the  different  districts,  has  been  deemed  a 
great  honor.  So  to  the  integrity  and  high  character  of  those 
who  fill  these  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility,  rendering 
free  of  cost  valuable  service  to  the  community,  is  largely  due 
whatever  of  success  may  have  been  achieved. 


PEACE  RESTORED  555 

THE  BOYS'  BRIGADE. 

"How  far  that  little  candle  throws  his  beams." 

Company  A,  First  ^.  C.  Eegiment,  U.  B.  B.  A.,  the  first 
company  of  Boys'  Brigade  in  jSTorth  Carolina,  and  doubtless 
the  first  in  the  South,  was  organized  at  Wilmington  on  Feb- 
ruary 14,  1896,  by  Col.  Walker  Taylor,  then  commanding 
the  Second  Eegiment  North  Carolina  State  Troops.  The 
company  was  organized  in  the  basement  of  Immanuel  Pres- 
byterian church,  a  mission  church  located  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  city,  and  subsequently  Companies  B  and  C  were 
formed  to  provide  for  the  training  of  boys  between  the  ages 
of  ten  and  seventeen,  and  the  present  membership  totals  one 
hundred  and  thirty. 

The  home  now  occupied  by  the  brigade  is  an  armory  given 
as  a  memorial  to  a  deceased  friend  of  the  organization,  Capt. 
William  Rand  Kenan,  and  the  structure  is  an  ornament  to 
that  section  of  the  city.  The  building  is  thoroughly  equipped 
for  the  work,  and  the  organization  provides  most  effective 
means  for  physical,  mental,  moral,  and  religious  training. 

For  eight  years  the  home  of  the  brigade  was  in.  the  small 
basement  room  of  the  church,  with  the  streets  as  drill  grounds ; 
and  here  weekly  meetings  were  held  every  Monday  night  and 
short  helpful  addresses  were  made  by  the  commander.  The 
rule,  most  faithfully  kept,  required  the  presence  of  every  mem- 
ber, unless  unavoidably  prevented,  and  the  commander  set  the 
standard,  which  has  been  lived  up  to  in  a  most  remarkable 
degree  by  even  the  youngest  members.  From  the  first  the 
commander  took  the  boys  into  his  confidence,  laid  his  plans 
before  them,  expressed  his  deep  interest  in  their  welfare  and 
his  abiding  faith  in  their  possibilities ;  and  from  this  humble 
beginning  has  grown  a  force  for  moral  uplift  than  which 
nothing  greater  has  ever  occurred  in  the  life  of  the  commu- 
nity. The  organization  is  on  a  strictly  non-denominational 
basis;  church  membership  is  not  a  condition  precedent  to 
membership  in  the  brigade,  but  attendance  on  Sunday  School 
is  a  condition  rigidly  exacted.  Of  its  membership  fully 
eighty  per  cent  are  communicant  members  of  some  church. 


556  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

and  the  light  that  has  gone  out  from  the  organization  has 
penetrated  into  many  forbidding  corners,  and  brought  hope 
and  courage  to  many  to  whom  the  best  prospects  in  life  had 
been  denied.  The  commander  is  a  leader  among  men,  and 
doubtless  his  experience  as  a  military  man  suggested  this 
form  of  organization  for  the  development  of  young  men  in 
whom  he  saw  latent  possibilities,  but  to  whom  the  fortune 
of  position  had  not  offered  equal  opportunity  for  success  and 
advancement.  So  thoroughly  grounded  has  been  the  work 
among  these  boys,  that  membership  in  the  organization  is  a 
passport  to  public  confidence.  In  a  most  pronounced  degTee 
has  there  been  developed  among  them  a  spirit  of  loyalty,  self- 
respect,  ambition,  industry,  sobriety,  and  propriety.  To  be 
a  member  of  the  brigade  imposes  a  duty  as  it  offers  an  op- 
portunity, and  the  sense  of  obligation  following  upon  privi- 
lege is  deeply  ingrained  into  the  spirit  of  the  organization. 

An  account  of  the  Boys'  Brigade  has  been  prepared  by 
Eeverend  Doctor  Wells,  as  follows : 

"In  connection  with  the  work  done  by  the  First  Presby- 
terian church  at  Immanuel  church,  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  city,  there  has  been  established  one  of  the  most  useful 
institutions  in  Wilmington.  This  is  the  Boys'  Brigade,  now 
quartered  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Second  and  Castle 
Streets. 

"On  the  evening  of  February  14,  1896,  Col.  Walker  Tay- 
lor, then  the  commander  of  the  Second  Eegiment  of  I^orth 
Carolina  State  Troops,  and  an  active  worker  in  the  Immanuel 
Presbyterian  Sunday  School,  met  with  fifteen  boys  and  or- 
ganized the  first  company  of  the  Boys'  Brigade  in  the  South. 
In  the  charter  granted.  Col.  Walker  Taylor  was  commissioned 
as  captain,  E.  P.  Dudley  as  first  lieutenant,  and  J.  J.  Lough- 
lin  as  second  lieutenant  of  the  new  company.  While  grow- 
ing out  of  Immanuel  Church  and  connected  with  it,  the  work 
in  its  scope  and  influence  has  been  largely  undenominational. 
Every  member  has  been  required  to  attend  a  Sunday  School. 
The  brigade  has  been  a  blessing  to  every  church  in  our  city, 
and  in  return  has  received  the  cordial  support  and  sympathy 
of  them  all. 


PEACE  RESTORED  557 

"For  eight  years  the  brigade  continued  to  meet  in  one  of 
the  rooms  connected  with  Immaniiel  church.  Then  in  1904 
a  splendid  armory  for  the  organization  was  erected  by  Mrs. 
Henry  M.  Flagler  as  a  memorial  of  her  father,  Capt.  William 
Eand  Kenan,  an  elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  church,  who 
had  been  a  sympathetic  friend  and  wise  counselor  of  the 
organization.  The  building  is  of  concrete,  colored  to  repre- 
sent gray  sandstone.  The  style  is  Norman,  and  the  building, 
sixty  by  one  hundred  feet  in  size  and  four  stories  in  height, 
is  a  very  massive  and  handsome  structure.  It  is  complete  m 
every  detail,  with  large  gymnasium,  ample  dressing  rooms  and 
bath  rooms,  library  and  reception  room,  offices,  large  audi- 
torium, dining-room,  kitchen  and  pantry,  bowling  alleys,  and 
rooms  for  guns  and  equipment.  The  armory  was  completed 
in  1905,  and  was  dedicated  to  the  glory  of  God  and  opened 
for  the  use  of  the  organization  on  June  22d  of  that  year. 
On  that  occasion  the  principal  address  was  delivered  by  Hon. 
R.  B.  Glenn,  then  Governor  of  North  Carolina. 

"A  complete  and  useful  library  of  two  thousand  volumes 
was  shortly  after  presented  to  the  brigade  by  Mr.  James 
Sprunt ;  and  this,  with  an  ample  supply  of  current  papers  and 
magazines,  has  served  to  make  the  library  of  the  brigade  an 
attractive  and  helpful  feature  of  the  work. 

''In  September,  1905,  a  second  company,  B,  was  organized, 
and  in  1911  a  third  company,  C.  These  companies,  while 
enjoying  the  training  and  privileges  of  the  organization,  are 
at  the  same  time  'feeders'  from  which  members  pass  into 
the  senior  company.  The  brigade  now  numbers  one  hundred 
and  thirty  members.  Mr.  Chas.  Dushan  is  the  efficient  sec- 
retary and  physical  director. 

"Bible  classes,  weekly  addresses  by  prominent  business  and 
professional  men,  an  annual  ten-day  encampment,  athletic 
games  and  contests  of  all  kinds,  and  a  helpful  and  instructive 
winter  lyceum  course  are  all  used  for  the  instruction  and 
amusement  of  the  members. 

"A  notable  constructive  work  has  been  done  by  the  brigade 
in  the  community.  The  little  room  and  the  wooden  guns 
have  developed  into  the  magnificent  building  and  the  com- 


558  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

plete  equipment.  The  little  working  boys  have  developed 
into  some  of  our  city's  most  valued  business  leaders  and  pro- 
fessional men.  The  whole  tone  of  that  part  of  the  city  has 
been  lifted.  And  the  community  is  vastly  better  for  the 
work  done  there.  And  this  has  been  the  work  of  one  man — 
Col.  Walker  Taylor.  The  friend  and  trusted  helper  of  the 
boys  when  they  were  lads,  he  has  continued  to  be  their  adviser 
and  confidential  friend  in  their  moral,  religious,  civic,  and 
business  lives.  He  has  made  weekly  talks  that  have  been 
of  the  greatest  influence  in  moulding  their  characters.  He 
has  taught  them  in  his  Sunday  School  class  with  vigor  and 
power.  He  has  visited  them  in  their  homes  and  places  of 
business.  His  office  door  has  always  been  open  for  them  to 
tell  him  their  troubles  or  joys  or  to  seek  his  advice  upon  their 
problems.  And  all  the  while  he  has  been  stamping  the  in- 
fluence of  his  strong  Christian  character  upon  their  plastic 
lives.  He  has  builded  well,  not  only  in  concrete  but  also  in 
character." 


THE  KEVOLUTIOK  OF  1898.^ 

"The  year  1898  marked  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  North 
Carolina,  and  especially  of  the  City  of  Wilmington.  Long 
continued  evils,  borne  by  the  community  with  a  patience  that 
seems  incredible,  and  which  it  is  no  part  of  my  purpose  to 
describe,  culminated,  on  the  10th  day  of  N'ovember,  in  a 
radical  revolution,  accompanied  by  bloodshed  and  a  thorough 
reorganization  of  social  and  political  conditions.  It  is  com- 
monly referred  to  as  the  Wilmington  Riot,  and  legally  and 
technically  it  may  be  properly  so  termed,  but  not  in  the  usual 
sense  of  disorderly  mob  violence,  for,  as  was  said  by  an  Army 
officer  who  was  present  and  witnessed  it,  it  was  the  quietest 
and  most  orderly  riot  he  had  ever  seen  or  heard  of.  A  negro 
printing  office  was  destroyed  by  a  procession  of  perfectly 
sober  men,  but  no  person  was  injured  until  a  negro  deliber- 
ately and  without  provocation  shot  a  white  man,  while  others, 

iBased  in  part  on  Colonel  Waddell's  Memoirs. 


PEACE  RESTORED  559 

armed  and  defiant,  occupied  the  streets,  and  the  result  was 
that  about  twenty  of  them  were  killed  and  the  rest  of  them 
scattered.  It  constituted  an  interesting  chapter  in  the  public 
history  of  the  country,  and  therefore  I  will  not  enlarge  upon 
it  further  than  to  say  that  it  was  the  spontaneous  and  unani- 
mous act  of  all  the  white  people,  and  was  prompted  solely 
by  an  overwhelming  sense  of  its  absolute  necessity  in  behalf 
of  civilization  and  decency." 

By  arrangement,  a  large  number  of  white  citizens  met  at 
City  Hall,  and  falling  in  behind  Colonel  Waddell,  two  by  two, 
marched  down  to  the  offending  printing  office  and  destroyed 
it.  On  the  evening  of  the  day  of  this  revolution,  the  mayor 
and  board  of  aldermen  then  in  charge  of  the  City  of  Wil- 
ming-ton,  one  by  one,  resigned ;  and  in  the  same  order  their 
successors  were  nominated  and  elected.  Thus  there  was  an 
entire  change  in  the  city  government,  and  the  order  of  things 
then  instituted  has  continued  uninterrupted  ever  since.  The 
effect  of  the  change  was  most  happy  upon  the  prosperity  of 
Wilmington.  The  city  then  took  a  start  in  progress  which 
has  never  ceased. 


THE  ATLANTIC  COAST  LINE  EAILKOAD. 

The  equipment,  rails,  and  rolling-stock  of  the  Wilmington 
and  Weldon  Railroad  and  its  connections  north  and  south 
were  thoroughly  worn  out  at  the  end  of  the  war,  so  thaf  when 
peace  came  there  was  need  for  entire  rehabiliment.  Mr. 
Walters,  Mr.  Newcomer,  and  Mr.  Jenkins  of  Baltimore,  be- 
coming interested  in  the  property,  so  managed  it  that  in  a 
few  years  it  became  wonderfully  productive,  and  under 
their  control  it  was  a  nucleus  of  railway  development.  From 
it  has  arisen.  Phoenix-like,  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line,  in  its 
equipment  and  management  one  of  the  finest  examples  of 
railroad  development  in  modem  times.  It  has  been  called 
the  aorta  of  Wilmington's  commercial  and  industrial  life. 
Without  it  Wilmington  could  not  have  flourished.  Many  of 
our  inhabitants  of  slender  means  depend  upon  its  dividends 
for  their  daily  bread — others  of  larger  fortunes  have  always 


560  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

preferred  to  invest  in  its  shares,  not  only  on  account  of  its 
admirable  physical  equipment  and  its  stable  financial  j)olicy, 
but  also  because  Mr.  Henry  Walters,  the  chairman  of  the 
board,  and  his  associates  in  its  excellent  management,  com- 
mand the  respect,  the  confidence,  and  the  admiration  of  its 
stockholders,  large  and  small. 

Erom  this  training  school  of  the  thousands  who  depend 
upon  it  for  their  occupation  and  support  have  arisen  many 
young  men,  worthy  successors  to  vacant  places  of  responsi- 
bility and  honor,  because  the  quality  of  their  instruction  has 
been  of  the  best  and  their  industrious  application  has  been 
made  effectual  in  a  higher  calling. 

In  N'ovember,  1898,  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad 
Company  of  Virginia  was  formed,  consolidating  the  Peters- 
burg Railroad  Company,  from  Petersburg,  Va.,  to  Garys- 
burg,  W.  C,  67  miles,  and  the  Richmond  and  Petersburg 
Railroad  Company,  from  Richmond  to  Petersburg. 

The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company  of  South  Caro- 
lina was  organized  in  July,  1898,  and  the  consolidation  of  the 
following  companies  was  effected:  Wilmington,  Columbia 
and  Augusta  Railroad  Company,  Northeastern  Railroad  Com- 
pany, Florence  Railroad  Company,  Cheraw  and  Darlington 
Railroad  Company,  Manchester  and  Augusta  Railroad  Com- 
pany. 

On  May  1,  1900,  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Com- 
pany was  formed  by  the  consolidation  of  the  following  com- 
panies :  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company  of  Virginia, 
Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company  of  South  Carolina, 
ISTorfolk  and  Carolina  Railroad  Company,  Wilmington  and 
Weldon  Railroad  Company,  Southeastern  Railroad  Company 
of  North  Carolina. 

The  Plant  System  of  Railways,  which  consolidated  with 
the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company  in  1902,  com- 
prised the  following  lines:  Florida  Southern  Railroad 
Company,  Sanford  and  St.  Petersburg  Railway  Company, 
Savannah,  Florida,  and  Western  Railway  Company. 

The  Savannah,  Florida,  and  Western  Railway  Company 
had  previously  acquired  the  following  lines :     Alabama  Mid- 


PEACE  RESTORED  561 

land  Kailroad  Company,  Brunswick  and  Western  Railroad 
Company,  Charleston  and  Savannah  Railway  Company, 
Tampa  and  Thonotosassa  Railroad  Company,  Silver  Springs, 
Ocala,  and  Gulf  Railroad  Company,  x\bbeville  Southern  Rail- 
way Company,  Ashley  River  Railroad  Company,  Greenpond, 
Walterboro,  and  Branchville  Railway  Company,  Southwest- 
ern Alabama  Railway  Company,  Sanford  and  Lake  Eustis 
Railroad  Company,  St.  John  and  Lake  Eustis  Railroad  Com- 
pany. 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  equipment  as  of  June  30, 
1913: 

Locomotives    777 

Passenger   cars    671 

Freight  cars  29,210 

Floating    equipment    20 

Work  equipment  975 

Total   31,653 

The  present  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad,  having  more 
than  4,600  miles  of  track,  extends  from  Richmond  and  ISTor- 
folk  on  the  north,  to  Tampa,  St.  Petersburg,  and  Fort  Meyers 
on  the  south,  and  to  Montgomery  on  the  west,  traversing  the 
great  coastal  plain  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  through  the 
States  of  Virginia,  'North.  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Georgia, 
Florida,  and  Alabama.  The  country  through  which  it  passes 
is  rich  in  agricultural  developments  and  possibilities,  and 
the  trucking  industry  on  its  lines  has  grown  to  enormous 
proportions,  l^ear  Wilmington  is  the  greatest  strawberry 
producing  belt  in  the  world.  These  berries  are  shipped  to 
the  Northern  markets  from  this  section  in  great  quantities 
each  year,  and  are  considered  a  most  profitable  crop. 

Starting  in  Virginia,  with  its  grain  and  other  hardy  crops, 
the  line  passes  through  the  cotton  and  tobacco  belt,  thence 
through  the  wonderful  garden  truck  section  of  the  Caro- 
linas  and  Georgia  into  the  semi-tropical  section  of  Flor- 
ida, abounding  in  citrus  fruits  of  unrivaled  quality  as  well 
as  early  vegetables  of  every  variety,  which  the  fortunate  in- 
troduction of  the  art  of  making  ice,  invented  by  Gorrie,  and 


562  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  use  of  refrigerator  cars  have  enabled  the  carriers  to  trans- 
port in  a  fresh  condition  to  the  great  markets  of  the  jSTorth. 

The  remarkable  diversity  of  soil  and  climate  is  steadily 
attracting  the  attention  of  settlers,  and  the  Atlantic  Coast 
Line  Railroad  Company,  through  its  Industrial  and  Immi- 
gration Bureau,  by  cooperation  with  the  State  agricultural 
colleges,  and  in  other  ways,  has  left  no  stone  unturned  to 
develop  and  advance  an  interest  in  agriculture.  During  the 
past  year  a  car  equipped  with  the  agricultural  products  and 
resources  of  the  States  through  which  its  line  runs  was  ex- 
hibited at  many  fairs  at  the  North  and  ISTorthwest. 

The  products  of  the  forest  form  a  most  important  part  of 
the  tonnage  of  the  line,  running  as  it  does  through  the  great 
pine  and  cypress  belts  of  the  South.  ISTor  is  this  section  de- 
pendent on  any  one  line  of  industry  for  its  growth  and  pros- 
perity; its  diversity  of  manufactures,  including  cotton  mills 
and  naval  stores,  being  important  factors.  The  phosphate 
industry  particularly  is  an  important  one,  and  the  rails  of 
the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company  reach  the  rich 
deposits  of  phosphate  in  Florida  and  South  Carolina. 

The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  has  about  1,700  miles  of  its 
tracks  in  the  State  of  Florida.  ISTew  lines  are  now  being  built 
further  to  open  up  the  rich  phosphate  beds  and  the  citrus  fruit 
belt  of  that  wonderful  section  of  our  country. 

This  road  played  an  important  part  in  the  War  between 
the  States,  and  it  had  to  be  practically  rebuilt  at  its  close. 

The  general  offices  of  the  company  have  always  been  located 
in  Wilming-ton.  Starting  with  a  few  men  in  1840,  it  now 
has  employed  at  headquarters  about  one  thousand  men,  and 
to  meet  the  constantly  increasing  business  there  has  been 
built  during  the  last  year  one  of  the  handsomest  railroad 
office  buildings  in  the  South.  This  structure,  six  stories  in 
height,  is  of  concrete  and  steel  construction,  and  cost,  with 
train  sheds  and  concourse,  approximately  $375,000. 

Wilmington  is  one  of  the  important  points  on  the  Atlantic 
Coast  Line  Railroad.  Cotton  is  its  principal  export,  al- 
though large  quantities  of  naval  stores,  lumber,  and  other 
products  are  handled.     It  had  at  one  time  the  distinction  of 


PEACE  RESTORED  563 

being  the  largest  naval  store  market  in.  the  world,  but  this 
industry  has  gradually  moved  southward,  and  now  Savannah 
or  Brunswick  claims  it.  During  the  past  season  there  was 
cleared  from  Wilmington  one  of  the  largest  single  cargoes 
of  cotton  ever  shipped  from  this  country,  and  the  largest  ever 
shipped  from  any  Atlantic  port. 

The  company  owns  and  uses  for  the  convenience  of  its 
patrons  at  Wilmington,  wharf  fronts  at  two  locations,  ap- 
proximating eighteen  hundred  feet  in  length,  in  front  of 
which  twenty-six  feet  of  water  is  maintained,  and  which 
provides  the  necessary  docks  for  ships  of  large  tonnage.  On 
the  property  adjoining  these  water  fronts  are  two  brick  ware- 
houses with  a  floor  space  of  forty-five  thousand  square  feet, 
used  largely  for  handling  package  freight,  and  two  storage 
warehouses  with  fifty-five  thousand  square  feet,  for  bulk 
material.  On  these  properties  are  included  the  tracks  neces- 
sary for  serving  the  varied  interests  in  connection  with  the 
different  wharves  and  warehouses.  The  lower  yard  tracks 
directly  connected  with  the  water  terminals  have  a  capacity 
of  over  eight  hundred  cars,  and  the  Smith  Creek  yard  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  city  has  a  capacity  of  over  thirteen  hundred 
cars.  The  railroad  company  maintains  shops  in  connection 
with  the  lower  yard,  where  running  repairs  are  made  on  loco- 
motives, and  where  cars  are  repaired  and  rebuilt. 

In  addition  to  the  wharves  used  by  the  Coast  Line  exclu- 
sively, it  also  owns  a  water  front  of  two  hundred  and  twenty 
feet  which  is  leased  to  private  concerns,  and  it  has  tracks  into 
or  accessible  to  practically  all  of  the  other  privately  owned 
water  front  and  other  properties  used  by  such  business  in- 
terests as  make  or  receive  rail  shipments.  The  railroad 
company  also  owns  and  is  holding  for  future  development 
extensive  water  fronts  and  acreage  on  Point  Peter  at  the 
junction  of  the  two  rivers,  and  still  larger  water  fronts  and 
acreage  on  Eagles  Island,  across  the  Cape  Fear  Eiver.  Both 
of  these  latter  properties  are  directly  opposite  the  city,  to 
which  they  are  readily  accessible  and  can  easily  be  reached 

37 


564  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

with  the  tracks  that  may  be  necessary  for  any  industries  lo- 
cated on  them. 

The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  also  operates  a  belt  line  around 
the  City  of  Wilmington,  which  touches  all  the  large  industries 
and  warehouses. 

The  rails  of  the  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company 
reach  all  the  important  ports  on  the  South  Atlantic  coast,  as 
well  as  some  on  the  Gulf,  beginning  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  thence 
southward  to  Wilmington,  Charleston,  Savannah,  Brunswick, 
Jacksonville,  and  Port  Tampa.  At  all  of  these  ports  it  has 
fine  terminal  facilities. 

The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company  has  always 
been  mindful  of  the  developments  of  the  country  through 
which  its  line  passes,  and  has  built  in  each  State  a  number  of 
lateral  lines,  depending  upon  the  growth  of  the  community  to 
make  them  paying  investments.  Indeed,  the  enterprise  of 
its  management  has  been  an  important  factor  in  the  develop- 
ment and  progress  of  the  South.  A  glance  at  the  following 
figures  will  indicate  its  growth  in  the  past  decade : 

1903-04. 

Gross  earnings   $20,544,975.20 

Operating  expenses  and  taxes 12,827,093.54 

1912-13. 

Gross  earnings  $36,123,071.51 

Operating  expenses  and  taxes 26,087,008.84 

An  increase  in  earnings  of  76  per  cent,  and  in  operating 
expenses  and  taxes  of  103  per  cent. 

The  main  line  of  this  company  is  now  laid  with  eighty-five- 
pound  rail  and  has  about  two  hundred  miles  of  double  track, 
and  this  mileage  is  being  added  to  steadily.  The  line  is 
being  equipped  also  with  automatic  electric  signals,  and  a 
large  part  of  this  work  has  been  accomplished. 

It  is  a  far  cry  from  the  passenger  train  of  1840,  with  its 
crude  equipment,  on  which  a  passenger  had  to  pay  seven 
cents  per  mile  or  more  to  travel,  to  the  magnificent  trains  of 
today,  with  their  powerful  locomotives  and  steel  passenger 
equipment,  on  which  one  may  ride  for  two  cents  a  mile. 
The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  Railroad  Company  runs  daily,  dur- 


PEACE  RESTORED  565 

ing  the  winter  months,  four  through  passenger  trains,  with 
the  most  modern  Pullman  equipment,  from  New  York  and 
eastern  cities  to  Jacksonville  and  other  Florida  points.  It 
also  runs  daily  five  passenger  trains,  with  modem  Pullman 
equipment,  from  Chicago  to  Florida  points,  connecting  with 
the  Coast  Line  rails  at  Montgomery,  Albany,  and  Tifton. 
From  Key  West  and  Tampa  direct  connection  is  made  with 
modern  passenger  steamers  for  Havana  and  other  points  in 
Cuba. 

At  one  time  all  of  the  through  trains  between  the  ISTorth 
and  the  South  moved  via  Wilmington,  but  in  1892,  in  order 
to  shorten  the  distance  materially  and  thus  to  compete  more 
effectively  for  the  Florida  travel,  a  line  was  completed  from 
Contentnea  to  Pee  Dee,  a  distance  of  141  miles.  This  line 
opened  up  also  a  fine  farming  section. 

The  Atlantic  Coast  Line  is  generally  known  and  advertised 
as  "The  Standard  Railroad  of  the  South."  It  is  the  con- 
stant aim  of  the  fluanagement  to  maintain  this  standard  and 
to  merit  this  distinction. 


THE  SEABOARD  AIR  LINE  RAILROAD. 

The  Wilmington,  Charlotte,  and  Rutherford  Railroad  was 
chartered  February  13,  1855,  and  by  1861  there  were  built 
103  miles  on  the  eastern  division,  and  from  Charlotte  to 
Lincolnton  on  the  western  division.  The  road  was  sold 
April  10,  1873,  and  reorganized  as  the  Carolina  Central 
Railway  Company,  and  completed  to  Charlotte  and  Shelby  in 
the  latter  part  of  1874,  comprising  a  total  distance  of  242 
miles. 

The  Carolina  Central  Railway  was  sold  May  31,  1880, 
and  reorganized  as  the  Carolina  Central  Railroad  Company, 
July  14,  1880,  when  the  late  Capt.  David  R.  Murchison  was 
made  president. 

It  traversed  the  counties  of  New  Hanover,  Brunsvdck, 
Columbus,  Bladen,  Robeson,  Richmond,  Anson,  Union,  Meck- 
lenburg, Gaston,  Lincoln,  and  Cleveland — a  section  highly 
productive  of  turpentine,  cotton,  and  other  articles  of  export, 


566  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

the  class  and  style  of  cotton  grown  in  Anson  and  Union  Coun- 
ties being  superior  to  that  of  any  other  section  in  the  State. 

Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line  Rail- 
way in  1900,  the  Seaboard  had  no  lines  south  of  its  Carolina 
Central  Eailroad  except  its  one  line  from  Monroe  to  Atlanta. 
Before  this  consolidation  in  1900,  the  old  Seaboard  Air  Line 
system  of  roads  had  a  total  mileage  of  approximately  925 
miles.  Today  its  mileage  is  3,074  miles,  exclusive  of  its  own- 
ership of  such  lines  as  the  Ealeigh  and  Charleston,  Marion 
and  Southern,  Tampa  Northern,  and  other  short  lines  of 
varying  length. 

The  following  subsidiary  lines  and  parts  of  the  original 
Seaboard  Air  Line  were  merged  and  consolidated  with  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line  Railway,  I^ovember,  1901,  thirteen  years 
ago:  Carolina  Central  Railroad,  Seaboard  Air  Line  Belt 
Railway,  Georgia,  Carolina,  and  Northern  Railway,  Durham 
and  Northern  Railway,  Raleigh  and  Gaston  Railroad,  Raleigh 
and  Augusta  Air  Line  Railroad,  Southbound  Railroad,  Ches- 
terfield and  Kershaw  Railroad,  Louisburg  Railroad,  Pittsboro 
Railroad,  Palmetto  Railroad. 

The  following  roads,  which  were  not  included  in  the  origi- 
nal Seaboard  Air  Line,  subsequently  became  parts  of  that 
system:  The  Logansville  and  Lawrenceville  Railroad  in 
1902,  the  Florida  Central  and  Peninsular  Railroad  in  1903, 
the  Oxford  and  Coast  Line  Railroad  in  1906,  the  Georgia  and 
Alabama  Railway  in  1907 ;  and  the  Atlantic,  Suwanee  River, 
and  Gulf  Railroad,  the  Atlanta  and  Birmingham  Air  Line 
Railway,  the  Catawba  Valley  Railroad,  the  Florida  West 
Shore  Railway,  the  Plant  City,  Arcadia  and  Gulf  Railway, 
and  the  Tallahassee,  Perry,  and  Southeastern  Railway  in 
1909. 

The  operated  mileage  of  the  Seaboard,  June  30,  1912,  was. .  3,070.12 
Extensions,  etc.,  during  the  year  11.86 


Mileage  in  operation  June  30,  1913 3,081.98 

Thus  was  brought  under  its  influence  a  radius  of  very  im- 
portant territory. 

The  main  track  southwestward  from  the  Carolina  Central 


PEACE  RESTORED  567 

leads  from  Monroe  through  Atlanta  to  Birmingham,  the  cen- 
ter of  the  Soiith's  iron  and  steel  manufacturing  industry,  con- 
necting there  for  interchange  of  passenger  and  freight  traffic 
with  the  direct  lines  to  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Kiver 
territory,  and  through  New  Orleans  and  Shreveport  to  the 
Southwest  and  Mexico. 

The  line  southwestward  from  the  Carolina  Central  at 
Hamlet  leads  through  Columbia,  the  capital  of  South  Caro- 
lina, and  traverses  the  great  Coastal  Plain  of  North  and  South 
Carolina  and  southeastern  Georgia,  touching  deep  water  at 
Savannah,  and  thence  to  Florida's  gateway  at  Jacksonville, 
where  connection  is  made  with  the  direct  lines  to  Cuba, 
Nassau,  and  the  east  coast  of  Florida.  Its  own  rails  out  of 
Jacksonville  cover  the  territory  through  the  northern  part  of 
the  State  to  the  capital  of  the  State,  Tallahassee,  and  thence 
to  connection  with  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  system  at 
Kiver  Junction,  affording  direct  connection  to  Mobile,  New 
Orleans,  and  the  southwestern  territory.  The  main  line  south 
of  Jacksonville  traverses  the  heart  of  the  State,  214  miles 
southward  to  Tampa,  the  important  south  Florida  deep-water 
port,  and  two  important  branches  lying  south  of  Tampa — 
that  into  the  great  natural  deposit  of  phosphate  with  numerous 
laterals  providing  facilities  for  this  important  and  growing 
traffic ;  and  that  southward  through  the  counties  of  Hillsboro 
and  Manatee  to  Venice,  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  serving  the 
richest  citrus  fruit  and  early  vegetable  country  in  the  United 
States.  Northward  from  Tampa,  the  Tampa  Northern  Rail- 
road was  acquired.  This  line  traverses  an  important  section 
on  the  western  coast  of  Florida. 

The  branch  from  the  main  track  at  Wildwood  runs  through 
the  beautiful  lake  country  via  Leesburg,  Tavares,  Orlando, 
Winter  Park  to  Lake  Charm,  within  sight  of  the  eastern  side 
of  the  peninsula. 

From  Waldo  there  is  a  branch  line  to  Cedar  Key,  and  an- 
other branch  through  the  phosphate  territory  down  to  In- 
verness. From  Starke  there  is  a  branch  line  into  the  agri- 
cultural and  phosphate  section  of  Alachua  County. 

From  Savannah,  there  are  340  miles  of  road  westward  to 


568  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

Montgomery,  with  two  important  branches,  one  to  Ocilla  and 
the  other  between  Columbus  and  Albany,  traversing  the  rich- 
est section  of  southwest  Georgia,  and  offering  an  outlet  for  an 
important  volume  of  trade  through  the  western  connections  at 
Montgomery. 

The  system  is  serving  a  very  material  portion  of  the  South's 
progressive  territory,  and  is  entitled  to  its  adopted  trade-mark 
of  ''The  ProgTessive  Railway  of  the  South,"  and  on  its  list  of 
directors  and  general  officers  there  is  shown  a  preponderance 
of  Southern-born  men  in  its  management.  Its  headquarters 
are  maintained  at  Baltimore,  the  chief  Southern  city  on  the 
North  Atlantic  coast. 

It  earned  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1913,  $24,527,864, 
being  more  than  was  earned  previously.  The  gross  revenue 
increased  7.01  per  cent,  operating  expenses  and  taxes  in- 
creased 2.82  per  cent,  and  operating  income  increased  19.59 
per  cent. 

Roadway,  track,  and  structures  of  the  railway  were  main- 
tained at  a  cost  of  $3,014,956.54,  which  represents  an  ex- 
penditure per  mile  of  road  of  $980.93. 

Equipment  on  hand  as  of  June  30,  1912 : 

Locomotives,  all  classes  471 

Passenger  equipment,  all  classes   349 

Freight  equipment,  all  classes 16,062 

Roadway  equipment,  all  classes  17,105 

Marine  equipment,  all  classes  14 

The  original  Carolina  Central  Railroad  has  performed  for 
many  years  an  obviously  valuable  duty  to  the  people  of  I^orth 
Carolina,  connecting,  as  it  does,  some  of  the  most  attractive 
western  and  middle  counties  with  the  eastern  coastal  section, 
and  as  the  other  parts  of  the  system  developed  it  added 
strength  to  this  link,  extending  to  the  communities  in  pro- 
portion to  their  abilities.  Thus  Wilmington  has  felt  a  strong 
impetus  from  the  extension  of  the  Seaboard.  Indeed,  Wil- 
mington's attractive  shore  front  was  found  to  be  nearer  to  the 
populous  communities  of  the  interior,  as  far  south  as  Atlanta, 
than  any  other  Atlantic  sea  resort ;  and  from  all  that  section 
of  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  as  well  as  from  the  sections  of 


PEACE  RESTORED  569 

ITortli  Carolina  served,  many  inhabitants  of  the  inland  area 
seek  the  attractions  of  Wrightsville  Beach  during  the  summer 
months. 

The  original  promoters  of  the  Carolina  Central  Railroad 
had  a  vision  that  it  would  cross  the  mountain  chain  and  afford 
ready  connection  v^ith  the  States  lying  beyond,  and  in  later 
years  this  has  been  realized  by  the  construction  of  the  fine 
Clinchfield  property  from  Rutherford  County  across  the 
mountains,  through  the  States  of  Tennessee,  Virginia,  and 
West  Virginia,  to  the  most  valuable  coal  deposit  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains ;  and  thus  has  the  dream  of  these  original 
enthusiasts  come  true.  Across  the  rugged  mountain  chain  is 
an  excellent  carrier,  offering  easy  and  comfortable  transpor- 
tation to  a  territory  w^hich,  in  their  day,  was  far  from  direct 
connection  with  the  eastern  section  of  North  Carolina. 

Agriculture,  the  backbone  of  all  prosperity,  widely  extended 
in  the  States  served  by  the  Seaboard,  has  called  for  the  ampli- 
fication of  fertilizer  manufacturing  and  distributing  facili- 
ties, and  Wilmington  has  shared  largely  in  the  extension  of 
this  important  industry.  Favored  with  an  excellent  channel 
and  capacity  for  docking  ships,  and  a  wide  area  of  rail  distri- 
bution therefrom,  it  serves  the  continued  extension  of  terri- 
tory with  its  accumulated  fertilizer  material. 

At  Wilmington,  the  Seaboard  has  terminal  facilities  of  the 
value  of  one  million  dollars,  comprising  two  thousand  feet  of 
water  front  on  the  Cape  Fear  River,  with  a  twenty-six-foot 
depth  at  mean  low  water,  five  large  terminal  warehouses,  and 
three  slips.  There  have  recently  been  erected  terminal  me- 
chanical facilities,  including  coal  elevator,  turntable,  repair 
track,  and  additional  yard  facilities.  Within  the  past  seven 
or  eight  years  the  Seaboard  has  spent  half  a  million  dollars  in 
improvements  of  its  terminals  at  Wilmington.  The  storage 
capacity  of  its  Wilmington  warehouses  is  approximately  one 
hundred  thousand  tons. 

Mindful  of  the  value  to  its  territory  of  agricultural  exten- 
sion, the  Seaboard  has  provided  a  department  charged  with 
this  duty — to  promote  the  best  methods,  better  agricultural 
conditions,  better  marketing;  the  establishment  of  industries 


570  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

in  its  territory ;  the  bringing  in  of  good  citize'hs  from  States 
of  the  Union  less  favored  in  climate  and  soil ;  and  in  every 
way  to  advance  the  vrelfare  of  the  agricultural  class. 

William  J.  Ilanrahan,  president  of  the  Seaboard  Air  Line 
Eaihvay,  whose  office  is  in  Xorfolk,  was  born  December  22, 
1867,  at  Kashville,  Tennessee.  He  entered  the  railway  serv- 
ice in  1881.  A  messenger  and  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Super- 
intendent of  the  Louisville  and  IN'ashville  Railroad,  New 
Orleans,  in  1884,  he  has  risen  by  gradations  first  to  the  vice- 
presidency  of  the  Erie  Railroad,  January,  1911,  and  then, 
September  26,  1912,  to  the  presidency  of  the  Seaboard  Air 
Line  Railway. 

The  evolution  of  a  great  enterprise  illustrates  the  law  of 
natural  selection  and  the  survival  of  the  fittest. 

Charles  R.  Capps,  the  vice-president,  was  born  in  IsTorfolk, 
Va.,  March  4,  1871,  and  educated  at  Roanoke  College,  1886- 
1888.  He  entered  the  railway  service  in  1888  as  messenger 
of  the  Seaboard  and  Roanoke  Railroad.  Until  July  12,  1895, 
he  held  various  positions  in  the  general  freight  office  of  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line,  and  from  December  1,  1909,  he  has 
been  vice-president  of  the  same  system.  Through  many 
financial  vicissitudes  and  changes  of  administration  in  the 
Seaboard  Air  Line,  he  has  stood  fast  in  his  loyalty  to  his  first 
love,  declining  attractive  offers  of  more  profitable  employ- 
ment elsewhere,  and  with  his  promotion  step  by  step,  he  has 
fulfilled  and  exceeded  the  highest  expectations  of  the  Seaboard 
management,  until  today  he  is  generally  recognized  as  one  of 
the  most  eminent  traffic  managers  of  the  railroad  world. 


PEACE  RESTORED  571 


HUGH  MacRAE'S  project. 

If,  as  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  said,  the  man  who  plants  a 
tree  is  a  public  benefactor,  of  how  much  greater  service  to 
mankind  is  he  who  plants  a  colony  of  small  farmers  in  a 
wilderness  of  waste  land,  and  by  the  application  of  modem 
scientific  methods  makes  this  wilderness  blossom  and  bear 
fruit  and  food  products  from  fifty  to  a  hundredfold.  Hugh 
MacRae  has  done  this,  adding  to  the  reputation  of  the  name 
he  so  worthily  bears,  for  indeed  in  many  other  ways  than  in 
this  commendable  enterprise,  has  the  MacRae  family  of  Wil- 
ming-ton  excelled  for  three  generations.  The  grandfather  of 
Hugh  and  Donald  MacRae,  Gen.  Alexander  MacRae,  was  a 
prominent  civil  engineer  in  his  day,  and  was  a  leader  in  the 
project  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad. 

The  late  Donald  MacRae,  father  of  Hugh  and  Donald  Mac- 
Rae, was  for  more  than  fifty  years  one  of  the  foremost  citi- 
zens of  Wilmingion.  Always  interested  in  the  promotion  of 
the  best  interests  of  the  to^vn,  he  gave  much  of  his  valuable 
time  to  the  welfare  of  the  community.  To  the  intelligence 
and  enterprise  of  Col.  John  MacRae,  chainnan  of  the  build- 
ing committee,  and  to  the  cooperation  of  Donald  MacRae, 
a  member  of  that  committee,  was  largely  due  the  beautiful 
structure  of  our  City  Hall,  one  of  the  finest  examples  of 
classic  architecture  in  the  South. 

From  a  history  of  the  Clan  MacRae  I  learn  that  Roderick 
MacRae,  called  Ruari  Doun  (Brown  Roderick),  landed  at 
Wilmington  about  1770.  He  went  to  Chatham  County, 
where  he  married  Catherine  Burke,  and  had,  among  other 
children,  a  son  Colin,  who  married  Christian  Black,  of  Cum- 
berland County.  Colin  had  five  sons  and  three  daughters. 
Alexander,  the  eldest  of  his  sons,  moved  to  Wilmington  in 
1824,  when  he  was  about  eighteen  years  old,  and  resided  there 
until  his  death  in  April,  1868.  He  had  nine  sons,  John  Colin 
MacRae,  a  colonel  of  engineers  in  the  Confederate  Army; 
Archibald  MacRae,  a  lieutenant  in  the  United  States  ISTavy, 
who  made  important  explorations  in  the  Andes;  Alexander 


572  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

MacRae,  a  merchant  of  Wilmington;  Donald  MacEae,  a 
merchant  and  capitalist  of  Wilmington,  who  was  interested  in 
railroads,  and  was  president  of  the  j^avassa  Guano  Company ; 
Henry  MacEae,  a  major  in  the  Confederate  Army;  Eobert 
Burns  MacEae,  a  major  in  the  Confederate  Army;  William 
MacEae,  a  brigadier  general  in  the  Confederate  Army,  a 
military  genius,  and  one  of  the  best  railroad  men  of  his  day, 
who  was  general  manager  of  the  Georgia  Eailroad  until  the 
time  of  his  death;  Eoderick  MacEae,  a  civil  engineer,  who 
was  a  blockade  runner  during  the  War  between  the  States; 
Walter  Gwyn  MacEae,  a  captain  in  the  Confederate  Army 
and  a  civil  engineer,  who  has  served  as  mayor  of  the  City  of 
Wilmington  and  in  many  other  positions  of  trust,  and  enjoys 
in  a  high  degree  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

Donald  MacEae,  son  of  Donald  and  brother  of  Hugh,  has 
occupied  many  high  positions  with  great  credit  and  accepta- 
bility, and  has  ever  been  one  of  the  most  enterprising  citi- 
zens of  the  town.  During  the  Spanish  American  War  he 
served  as  captain  of  Company  K,  Second  North  Carolina 
Infantry. 

Hugh  MacEae  has  long  been  among  the  leading  men  of  the 
Cape  Fear,  but  he  is  entitled  to  preeminence  for  his  enterprise 
in  local  development. 

Upon  the  occasion  of  the  annual  meeting  and  banquet  of 
the  JS^orth  Carolina  Society  of  New  York,  December  7,  1908, 
and  jn  response  to  the  request  of  Mr.  Page,  the  president,  who 
is  now  our  honored  Ambassador  to  the  Court  of  St.  James, 
Mr.  Hugh  MacEae,  of  Wilmington,  with  prophetic  vision, 
outlined  a  program  for  North  Carolina's  growth  and  devel- 
opment for  the  following  twenty-five  or  fifty  years,  which, 
although  at  the  time  viewed  askance  by  some  who  doubted, 
has  been  completely  realized  in  more  recent  years,  and  in  this 
year  of  grace,  1914,  the  development  has  indeed  gone  beyond 
his  anticipations. 

For  a  nimiber  of  years  it  was  the  wish  of  Mr.  MacEae  to 
secure  immigrants  to  be  located  in  the  vicinity  of  Wilming- 
ton.    Eventually  he  was  able  to  establish  five  colonies,  with 


PEACE  RESTORED  5'?3 

about  three  hundred  people  in  each  colony.  The  Italians 
are  located  at  St.  Helena,  Hungarians  and  Hollanders  at 
Castle  Hayne,  Poles  at  Marathon,  Germans  at  Newberlin, 
and  Hollanders  and  Poles  at  Artesia.  Americans  and  other 
nationalities  are  located  also  at  Castle  Hayne  and  at  Artesia. 
This  enterprise  has  now  passed  beyond  the  experimental  stage 
and  is  a  pronounced  success.  It  is  a  moniunent  to  the  sagac- 
ity and  perseverance  of  Mr.  MacRae,  and  in  accomplishing 
what  he  has  achieved,  despite  great  obstacles,  he  has  the  satis- 
faction of  realizing  that  he  has  been  a  great  benefactor  to  his 
community. 

Tide  Water  Power  Company. 

A  stranger's  impression  of  a  city  is  governed  by  those 
things  which  first  come  imder  his  observation,  and  of  these 
none  carry  greater  weight  than  the  street  cars  and  the  electric 
lighting  service.  If  these  are  good,  and  a  further  investiga- 
tion of  the  town's  resources  shows  that  the  electric  power  is 
satisfactory  and  the  gas  of  good  quality  and  of  moderate  cost, 
it  would  seem  that  the  future  development  of  that  city  is 
secure.  Judged  by  these  standards,  neither  strangers  nor 
home  folks  can  see  anything  in  Wilmington's  future  save  un- 
qualified success. 

1^0  city  can  realize  its  greatest  development  without  good 
public  utilities,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  record  that  Wilmington's 
period  of  greatest  progress  has  been  coincident  with  the  or- 
ganization and  development  of  the  Consolidated  EaiTways 
Light  and  Power  Company,  and  its  successor,  the  Tide  Water 
Power  Company.  The  first  public  utility  company  of  this 
city  was  the  Wilmington  Gas  Light  Company,  organized  in 
1854,  Edward  Kidder,  president,  and  John  Mcllhenny,  super- 
intendent. Mr.  Richard  J.  Jones  was  elected  treasurer  on 
Friday,  November  13,  1868,  and  today,  after  nearly  half  a 
century  in  the  service  of  this  corporation  and  its  successors, 
he  is  the  active  treasurer  of  the  Tide  Water  Power  Company. 
During  the  early  years  gas  was  made  from  lightwood,  and  at 
one  time  commanded  a  price  of  ten  dollars  per  thousand.  In 
1888  the  Wilmington  Electric  Light  Company,  which  had 


574  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

operated  a  street  lighting  system  with  electric  arc  lights  for  a 
couple  of  years,  developed  such  an  amount  of  competitive 
activity  as  to  bring  about  its  purchase  by  the  Wilmiugton 
Gas  Light  Company.  Later  on,  the  gas  company  began  to 
furnish  incandescent  lighting,  finally  terminating  its  career 
in  1902,  when  it  was  absorbed  by  the  Consolidated  Railways 
Light  and  Power  Company. 

Among  the  other  public  utilities  which  subsequently  formed 
part  of  the  Tide  Water  Power  Company,  was  the  Wilmington 
Street  Railway  Company,  organized  as  a  horse-car  line  in 
1887,  and  purchased  in  1892  by  Northern  capitalists,  who 
changed  the  motive  power  from  horses  to  electricity  and  built 
the  dummy  line  which  has  since  been  a  large  factor  in  the 
growth  of  the  city.  This  line  for  handling  freight  traverses 
the  water  front,  and  affords  a  cheap  and  efficient  delivery 
direct  to  the  large  jobbers  and  wholesalers.  The  entire  prop- 
erty, after  a  series  of  financial  troubles,  finally  failed  in  1901, 
and  was  sold  at  a  receiver's  sale. 

A  third  company,  built  in  the  period  of  activity  which  pre- 
ceded the  Baring  Brothers'  failure  in  1893,  was  the  Seacoast 
Railway.  This  road  was  designed  to  connect  Wilmington  and 
Wrightsville  Sound.  It  began  operations  in  1888  with  Wil- 
liam Latimer  as  president.  These  three  properties,  in  1902, 
were  brought  together  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Hugh  Mac- 
Rae  into  an  organization  called  the  Consolidated  Railways 
Light  and  Power  Company,  later  known  as  the  Tide  Water 
Power  Company,  Hugh  MacRae,  president;  A.  B.  Skelding, 
general  manager ;  M.  F.  H.  Gouverneur,  W.  B.  Cooper,  J.  V. 
Grainger,  H.  C.  McQueen,  C.  [N".  Evans,  Oscar  Pearsall, 
Jurgen  Haar,  J.  G.  L.  Gieschen,  Edouard  Ahrens,  C.  E.  Tay- 
lor, Jr.,  Junius  Davis,  George  R.  French,  G.  Herbert  Smith, 
and  C.  W.  Worth,  directors.  Owned  locally  and  managed 
by  officials  who  have  long  been  identified  with  home  in- 
terests, this  corporation  enjoys  a  public  confidence  which  in 
itself  constitutes  a  valuable  asset.  From  the  wrecks  of  three 
unsuccessful  enterprises  has  been  built  a  property  which,  in 
efficiency  and  good  service,  ranks  with  the  best  in  the  coun- 
try; and  in  addition  it  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the 


PEACE  RESTORED  575 

only  public  sen^ice  corporation  in  the  South  whose  common 
stock  is  entirely  held  in  its  home  town. 

All  of  the  electric  railway,  electric  light,  electric  power 
and  gas  systems  in  the  City  of  Wilmington  and  in  New  Han- 
over County  are  owned  and  operated  by  this  company. 

1.  Electric  Railway  Department.— Owing  to  the  fact 
that  there  has  never  been  any  competitive  railway  systems  in 
the  City  of  Wihnington,  the  existing  tracks  are  laid  out  on 
the  most  desirable  streets,  and  there  are,  therefore,  no  un- 
profitable lines  included  within  its  system.  Fifty-eight  per 
cent  of  all  the  lines  within  the  city  limits  are  double-tracked. 
The  suburban  line,  operating  over  one  of  the  principal  city 
tracks,  goes  direct  to  Wrightsville  Beach,  a  total  distance  of 
11.23  miles.  On  this  beach  there  are  three  large  summer 
hotels,  one  yacht  club,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  cottages, 
representing  a  total  property  value,  not  including  unimproved 
real  estate,  of  over  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  com- 
pany owns  a  large  tract  of  beach  land,  capable  of  extension  to 
over  three  hundred  acres,  and  several  extensive  tracts  of  real 
estate  along  the  suburban  line  and  several  sites  in  the  city,  all 
of  which  are  rapidly  increasing  in  value. 

The  powerhouse  is  of  the  best  modern  brick  and  steel  con- 
struction, with  the  latest  type  of  equipment  for  the  combined 
operation  of  railway  and  lighting  plants. 

2.  Electric  Lighting. — The  company  does  all  of  the 
electric  light  and  power  business  in  Wilmington  and  New 
Hanover  County,  which  includes  Wrightsville  Beach  and  the 
suburban  settlements.  The  distribution  system  is  of  sub- 
stantial and  permanent  construction,  as  is  evidenced  by  the 
reliable  service  now  given  by  this  company.  Installations 
and  connections  with  customers  are  as  follows  (the  compara- 
tive figures  for  1904,  1909,  and  1913  are  also  given)  : 


1904 

1909 

1913 

340 

85 

1,266 

142 

96 

19,262 

490 

2,178 

125 

600 

7,746 
75 

36,000 

1,682 

676 


CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 


3.  Gas  Depaetment.— The  company  owns  a  new  and 
well-equipped  gas  plant,  including  150,000  cubic  feet  of 
double  lift  bolder,  coal  gas  plant  capable  of  putting  out 
225,000  cubic  feet  of  gas  per  day,  water  gas  plant,  latest  de- 
sign, put  in  service  December  1,  1911,  capable  of  making 
4T5,000  cubic  feet  a  day. 


1904 

1909 

1913 

Miles  of  mains 

12.28 
700 
495 
66 

14.67 

1,353 

1.072 

143 

22 

1,780 

1,600 

145 

THE  RIVER  COUNTIES. 

The  sixteen  counties  from  Onslow  to  Richmond  constitute 
what  has  long  been  known  as  the  Cape  Fear  country.  From 
their  first  settlement  the  inhabitants  of  these  counties  have 
been  allied  in  business  and  social  interests,  and  their  associa- 
tion has  been  so  close  that  their  history  is  largely  inter- 
related. 

The  upper  Cape  Fear  having  been  settled  principally  by 
Highland  Scotsmen,  whose  descendants  still  remain  near 
where  their  forefathers  found  a  home,  the  predominating 
strain  in  that  region  is  Scotch.  Lower  down  the  settlers  were 
chiefly  English  and  Scotch-Irish. 

Since  the  Revolution  there  have  been  no  considerable  ac- 
cessions from  abroad,  and  the  development  has  been  through 
internal  growth,  which  was  very  slow  during  those  decades 
when  so  many  l^orth  Carolinians  were  migi-ating  to  the  new 
lands  of  the  South  and  West.  But  on  the  cessation  of  that 
migration  population  began  to  thicken,  and  industries  have 
been  diversified  to  the  great  advantage  of  the  entire  region. 
Indeed  the  development  of  all  the  counties  of  the  Cape  Fear 
country  has  been  most  gratifying,  and  while  every  township 
has  reason  to  rejoice  in  its  social  and  material  improvement, 
the  uplift  of  the  region  has  had  a  potent  influence  on  the 


PEACE  RESTORED  577 

centres  of  trade.  Especially  has  Wilmington  felt  tlie  bene- 
ficial effects  in  the  enlargement  of  its  business,  and  the 
strengthening  of  its  financial  resources,  and  in  its  increasing 
importance  as  an  entrepot  of  foreign  and  domestic  commerce. 
While  it  is  beyond  the  compass  of  this  volume  to  describe  the 
historical  events  of  the  entire  region — ^whose  history  is  so 
full  of  interest  and  such  a  source  of  pride  to  the  inhabitants, 
yet  the  writer  cannot  omit  some  slight  mention  of  the  river 
counties,  Cumberland,  Bladen  and  Brunswick.  New  Han- 
over was  laid  off  from  Bath  in  1729,  and  five  years  later 
Bladen  was  laid  off,  extending  indefinitely  to  the  west,  and 
reaching  the  Virginia  line  to  the  north.  It  was  named  for 
one  of  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  which  had  charge 
of  the  Colonies,  who  was  personally  interested  in  North  Caro- 
lina as  he  owned  lands  in  Albemarle  and  his  son-in-law, 
Colonel  Rice,  had  made  his  home  on  the  Cape  Fear.  Bladen, 
so  vast  in  extent,  in  time  became  the  mother  of  counties.  Its 
western  territory,  clear  to  the  Virginia  line,  was  in  1749' 
erected"  into  a  county  called  Anson.  Then  five  years  later, 
Cumberland  County  was  likewise  cut  off  from  Bladen.  After 
the  Revolution  another  part  was  taken  off  and  called  Robeson, 
in  honor  of  one  of  Bladen's  heroes.  Then  in  1808  a  slice  of 
Bladen,  added  to  a  part  of  Brunswick,  became  Columbus. 

Cumberland  was  for  many  years  a  very  large  county,  but 
in  1784  Moore  County  was  cut  off  from  it,  and  in  1855 
Harnett;  and  more  recently,  Hoke  was  formed  from  parts 
of  Cumberland  and  Robeson. 

While  Bladen  and  Cumberland  were  so  extensive  they 
played  a  most  important  part  in  the  stirring  events  that  mark 
the  history  of  the  Cape  Fear.  During  the  Revolution  the 
inhabitants  were  much  divided,  many  adhering  to  the  govern- 
ment under  which  they  had  lived  and  to  which  they  felt  that 
their  allegiance  was  due.  But  in  both  counties  there  were 
ardent  Whigs,  and  civil  war  at  times  raged  with  deplorable 
consequences.  No  Whigs  were  more  determined  than  those 
of  Bladen  and  Cumberland,  and  battles  were  fought  in  each 


578  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

county,  some  account  being  given  elsewhere  of  the  battle  of 
Elizabethtown. 

After  the  Revolution  Fajetteville,  being  at  the  head  of 
navigation,  became  the  market  for  western  products  and  the 
distributing  point  for  imported  goods  needed  even  beyond 
the  mountains.  Its  importance  was  so  fully  recognized  that 
the  legislature  held  sessions  there  and  it  was  regarded  as  the 
natural  point  for  the  State  capital.  Although  improperly 
deprived  of  this  advantage,  Fayetteville  continued  to  flour- 
ish, becoming  in  many  respects  the  most  important  center  in 
the  State.  There  was  to  be  found  one  of  the  most  elegant 
social  circles  in  the  State,  and  her  citizens  were  foremost  in 
enterprises.  In  1818  they  started  the  steamer  Henrietta  to 
run  on  regular  schedule  between  Wilmington  and  Fayette- 
ville, and  they  led  in  the  erection  of  mills  to  make  paper  and 
cotton  goods. 

From  the  beginning  Cumberland  could  boast  of  many 
families  of  superior  intelligence,  virtue  and  refinement,  and 
the  passage  of  time  has  only  added  to  its  high  reputation 
in  this  regard.  The  public  men  of  Cumberland  were  ever 
the  equals  of  the  best  in  the  State — the  Hays,  Rowans, 
Groves,  Eccles,  Mallets,  Winslows,  McAllisters,  McQueens, 
Campbells,  Murchisons,  Smiths,  Mcl^eills,  McCormicks,  Mc- 
Dearmids,  Bethunes,  Cochrans,  Dobbins,  Henrys,  MacRaes, 
Camerons,  Rays,  Hales,  Steeles,  Shepherds,  Stranges,  Shaws, 
McLaughlins,  Robinsons,  Tillinghasts,  Halls,  Worths, 
Haighs,  Huskes,  Kyles,  Curries,  Stedmans,  Williamses,  Ful- 
lers, Hinsdales,  Broadfoots,  Starrs,  Roses,  and  many  others  of 
equal  importance. 

While  the  first  settlements  on  the  river  were  made  on  its 
western  side  and  planters  located  well  up  into  Bladen,  it 
was  not  until  1764  that  Brunswick  County  was  cut  off  from 
New  Hanover,  Among  those  early  planters  were  the  Moores, 
Halls,  Howes,  Davises,  Granges,  Watters,  Hasells,  Ancrums, 
Campbells,  Waddells,  Hills  and  others  who  were  prosperous 
and  fortunate  in  their  surroundings.     They  constituted  a 


PEACE  BE  STORED  579 

large  element  in  the  social  life  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  exerted 
a  potent  influence  on  political  movements. 

When  the  town  of  Old  Brunswick  dwindled  away,  there 
was  no  other  town  in  the  county.  The  county  seat  was  at 
first  established  at  Lockwood's  Folly,  but  in  1805  the  court- 
house was  removed  to  Smithville,  where  many  of  the  old 
families,  while  retaining  their  plantations,  built  commodious 
and  handsome  residences. 

In  after  years,  other  families  likewise  have  been  promi- 
nent—the Smiths,  Leonards,  Bakers,  Laspeyres,  Meareses, 
Browns,  Eussells,  Everitts,  LaJigdons,  Bellamys,  F'rinks, 
Prioleaus,  Taylors,  Curtises,  Galloways,  and  others  who  have 
maintained  the  high  repute  of  their  predecessors. 

Of  Dr.  Walter  Gilman  Curtis  some  particular  mention 
should  be  made.  He  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  a 
graduate  of  Dartmouth,  and  received  his  medical  diploma  at 
Harvard.  He  settled  at  Smithville  in  1847  and  soon  became 
the  leading  practitioner  of  that  vicinity.  During  the  war 
between  the  States  he  thoroughly  sympathized  with  the  South, 
and  for  a  time  acted  as  surgeon  to  the  Confederate  troops  at 
Smithville.  For  thirty  years  he  was  the  Quarantine  officer 
of  the  port  and  he  discharged  his  duties  with  rare  intelli- 
gence and  great  acceptability.  His  official  reports  are  very 
valuable.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual  attainments,  and  his 
spotless  character  and  admirable  social  characteristics  en- 
deared him  to  his  friends.  In  1900  he  published  a  volume 
of  Reminiscences  of  unusual  merit,  thus  adding  to  the  litera- 
ture of  the  Lower  Cape  Fear  and  preserving  memories  that 
were  fast  escaping  into  oblivion.  Dr.  Curtis  won  for  him- 
self an  enviable  place  in  the  esteem  of  his  contemporaries  be- 
cause of  a  life  well  spent,  always  devoted  to  the  betterment 
of  surroundings  and  the  elevation  of  humanity. 

The  Galloways  are  a  family  that  should  also  be  particularly 
mentioned.  Samuel  Galloway,  along  with  his  brother,  Cor- 
nelius, about  the  year  1750  emigrated  from  County  Galloway, 
Scotland,  and  made  his  home  on  Lockwood's  Folly  River. 


580  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

The  descendants  of  Samuel  Galloway  have  always  been  men 
of  ability  and  of  strong  influence.  Years  ago  several  members 
of  this  family  located  at  Smithville,  but  they  have  never 
ceased  to  hold  their  influence  in  the  county,  Mr.  Rufus  Gal- 
loway being  one  of  the  leading  and  prominent  men  of  the 
county  in  this  generation.  When  Major  Swift  was  con- 
structing Fort  Caswell,  Mr.  John  Wesley  Galloway  was  em- 
ployed under  him,  and  a  warm  attachment  arose  from  their 
intercourse.  When  the  war  came  on,  although  over  age  for 
active  service,  Mr.  John  Galloway  organized  a  Coast  Guard 
Company  and  rendered  valuable  service.  He  died  of  yellow 
fever  during  the  war.  His  son,  Capt.  Swift  Galloway,  named 
for  Major  Swift,  was  a  splendid  soldier  and  was  gTeatly  es- 
teemed for  his  talents  and  high  integrity  in  public  life.  He 
frequently  represented  Greene  County  in  the  Legislature. 
Maj.  Andrew  Jackson  Galloway  of  Goldsboro,  was  another 
scion  of  this  family.  He  had  the  perfect  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  an  extensive  circle  of  friends  and  was  an  esteemed 
oflScer  of  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad  Company. 
All  of  the  Galloways  who  were  old  enough  to  shoulder  a  mus- 
ket served  in  the  Confederate  Army.  Particular  mention 
should,  however,  be  made  of  John  W.  Galloway,  who  became 
a  captain  of  artillery,  and  of  Sam  Galloway,  a  younger 
brother  of  Capt.  Swift  Galloway,  and  of  Dr.  W.  C.  Galloway 
of  Wilmington,  who  has  attained  merited  prominence  in  his 
profession. 

Another  scion  of  this  Brunswick  family  is  Hon.  Charles 
Mills  Galloway,  whose  fine  talents  and  high  character  led 
to  his  being  selected  by  President  Wilson  as  one  of  the  three 
Civil  Service  Commissioners  of  the  United  States.  He  has 
added  honors  to  the  name  he  bears  so  worthily.'  He  was  born 
in  Pender  County,  August  15,  1875,  and  attained  promi- 
nence as  a  member  of  the  South  Carolina  press.  His  father, 
James  M.  Galloway,  was  a  member  of  the  mercantile  firm  o:^ 
Foyes  &  Galloway  at  Wilmington,  and  was  clerk  of  Pender 
County,  and  has  all  through  life  been  most  highly  esteemed. 

Another  descendant  of  Samuel  Galloway — in  the  fourth 


PEACE  RESTORED  681 

generation — was  Bishop  Charles  Betts  Galloway  of  Missis- 
sippi, who  was  more  widely  known  than  any  other  bishop  of 
the  Methodist  Church  of  his  time.  He  was  one  of  the  great- 
est orators  of  the  South,  and  was  a  man  of  unsurpassed  power 
and  influence.    Thousands  flocked  to  hear  him  preach. 

A  review  of  prominent  persons  of  Brunswick  County  who 
have  served  well  their  day  and  generation  in  public  and  pri- 
vate life  would  be  incomplete  without  the  mention  of  one  of 
her  fair  daughters  whose  honored  name,  Miss  Kate  Stuart,  has 
been  for  many  years  a  synonym  for  goodness,  and  mercy, 
and  for  loving-kindness  in  the  hearts  and  homes  of  the  Cape 
Fear  people.  Of  rare  intellectual  gifts  and  fine  executive 
ability,  her  accurate  knowledge  of  historical  events  and  her 
wise  counsel  in  local  affairs  have  made  her  an  authority  on 
important  local  questions  and  the  charm  of  her  conversation 
has  added  much  to  the  enjoyment  of  those  who  are  favored 
by  her  hospitality. 

Bladen,  unlike  Cumberland,  possessed  no  central  settle- 
ment of  overshadowing  local  importance,  its  principal  inhabi- 
tants living  on  their  plantations.  William  Bartram,  Joseph 
Clark,  Robert  Howe,  Hugh  Waddell,  William  McRee,  John 
Grange,  John  Gibbs,  Thomas  Eobeson,  William  Salter, 
Thomas  Owen,  James  Council,  General  Brown  and  Major 
Porterfield  were  among  the  first  men  in  the  province  in  their 
generation. 

In  after  years  the  McEees,  Mc:N"eills,  McKays,  Owens, 
Gillaspies,  Browns,  Wrights,  McMillans,  Gilmores,  Melvins, 
Lyons,  McDowells,  Purdies,  McCullochs,  Cromarties,  proved 
themselves  equal  to  the  best,  and  some  attained  national  repu- 
tations. Indeed  from  Bladen  sprang  Colonel  McRee  and 
Colonel  McNeill  who  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being  the 
first  engineers  of  the  United  States,  and  General  McKay 
and  Governor  Owen  ranked  high  among  the  public  men  of 
their  day.  _   '1^ 

While  the  development  of  these  particular  counties  has 
been  of  great  advantage  to  Wilmington,  so  also  has  the  pros- 
perity of  each  of  the  Cape  Fear  counties  been  of  decided 


582  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

influence,  and  with  pride  we  witness  their  substantial  im- 
provement and  realize  that  in  their  continued  prosperity 
Wilmington  has  a  better  hope  of  greater  growth  and  impor- 
tance in  the  years  to  come. 


THE  GROWTH  OF  WILMIiTGTON. 

Coincident  with  the  river  improvement  there  has  been  a 
gratifying  increase  in  the  business  of  the  City  of  Wilmington. 
While  one  of  the  largest  factors  in  this  splendid  growth  has 
been  the  development  of  the  trucking  industry,  yet  much  is 
to  be  attributed  to  the  increased  commerce  of  the  port. 

To  the  trucking  industry  may  be  ascribed  a  considerable 
proportion  of  the  large  bank  deposits,  and  the  general  diffu- 
sion of  prosperity ;  but  the  remarkable  increase  in  commerce 
speaks  for  itself  and  gives  an  assurance  of  the  future  im- 
portance of  the  city. 

During  the  eighty  years  from  1829  to  June  30,  1909,  there 
had  been  spent  on  the  river  below  Wilmington  $4,328,000, 
and  the  total  annual  commerce  at  the  end  of  that  period  was 
864,071  tons,  of  the  value  of  $49,753,175.  For  the  year 
ending  June  30,  1910,  there  was  expended  for  river  improve- 
ment $400,000,  and  the  value  of  the  commerce  rose  to  $52,- 
214,254.  At  the  end  of  the  year  June  30,  1913,  there  had 
been  a  total  expenditure  of  $5,368,000,  and  the  tonnage  had 
risen  in  1912  to  1,072,205  tons  and  the  commerce  for  the 
year  was  $60,863,344.  The  exports  were  to  eight  foreign 
countries — Germany,  France,  England,  Italy,  Belgium, 
Spain,  Haiti,  and  Chile,  while  there  were  imports  from  ten 
foreign  countries.  For  the  year  ending  June  30,  1914,  the 
imports  from  foreign  countries  were  $4,194,745,  as  against 
$3,460,419  in  1913;  and  the  exports  to  foreign  countries 
were  $25,870,851,  as  against  $19,510,926  in  1913— showing 
an  improvement  of  about  one-third  in  both  exports  and  im- 
ports in  one  year.  The  increased  depth  of  water  to  twenty- 
six  feet  is  having  its  expected  effect  on  our  commerce. 


PEACE  RESTORED  683 

On  the  opening  of  the  Panama  Canal  it  is  expected  that  a 
new  impetus  will  be  given  to  the  commerce  of  the  port  because 
of  the  natural  advantages  of  the  situation,  Wilmington  being 
south  of  Hatteras,  only  1,552  miles  from  Panama,  and  hav- 
ing superior  railroad  facilities,  with  connections  uniting  the 
great  marts  of  the  interior  States.  Thus  there  is  reason  to 
hope,  with  entire  confidence,  for  even  a  larger  development 
than  that  of  the  last  few  years,  gratifying  as  that  has  been. 

In  1910,  the  assessed  valuation  of  real  estate  was  $11,- 
851,150.  In  1914,  it  was  $14,472,564,  being  an  increase  of 
thirty  per  cent.  The  estimated  values  show  even  a  greater 
increase,  being  from  $23,000,000  to  $30,000,000. 

In  the  same  period  the  banking  capital  increased  from 
$1,922,716  to  $2,568,959;  the  bank  deposits  rose  from  $9,- 
292,088  to  $11,494,664;  and  the  banking  resources  aggregate 
$15,397,030. 

It  has  only  been  in  recent  years  that  the  jobbing  business 
has  had  a  fair  chance  for  development ;  but  with  the  removal 
of  obstacles,  the  enterprise  of  the  Wilmington  merchants  at 
once  brought  results.  In  1910,  the  jobbing  trade  had  risen 
by  leaps  to  $50,000,000,  and  in  1913  it  was  estimated  at 
$70,000,000.  With  the  new  conditions,  and  the  rapid  gTOwth 
of  interior  markets,  due  to  the  wonderful  prosperity  of  the 
country  within  the  reach  of  Wilmington,  these  figures  are 
destined  to  be  speedily  multiplied. 

While  manufactures  are  still  in  their  infancy,  yet  they  are 
varied  in  nature — chiefly,  however,  cotton  goods,  lumber  and 
woodwork  of  many  kinds,  and  fertilizers.  In  1913  Wilming- 
ton shipped  263,000  tons  of  fertilizers.  It  is  interesting  to 
note  that  just  north  of  the  Hilton  Bridge,  on  the  N'ortheast, 
three  large  fertilizer  factories  are  located,  as  well  as  the 
Camp  Manufacturing  Sawmill.  These  have  a  water  traffic 
of  165,000  tons,  valued  at  $2,271,849,  and  this  in  spite  of  the 
existing  disadvantage  of  a  shallow  stream.  While  vessels 
drawing  twenty-six  feet  of  water  can  reach  the  bridge,  north 
of  the  bridge  the  river  widens  rapidly,  so  that  within  the  dis- 
tance of  half  a  mile  the  width  of  fifteen  hundred  feet  is 


584  GAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

reached,  and  then  for  a  mile  and  a  half  it  narrows  to  a  nor- 
mal width  of  six  hundred  feet.  In  this  wide  stretch  the  chan- 
nel is  narrow  and  only  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  deep — en- 
tirely insufficient  for  the  larger  vessels  bringing  in  raw  ma- 
terial. It  is  now  under  consideration  to  have  the  channel 
widened  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  with  a  depth  of 
twenty-two  feet,  and  when  this  is  accomplished  that  part  of 
the  river  will  become  still  more  important. 

But  as  important  as  are  the  above  sources  of  prosperity,  the 
development  of  the  export  trade  has  been  the  chief  factor  in 
the  growth  of  the  city.  The  increasing  foreign  commerce 
has  led  to  the  adoption  of  plans  for  a  more  pretentious  custom 
house;  and  this  branch  of  our  trade  will  doubtless  be  much 
benefited  if  the  proposition  to  increase  the  depth  of  water 
from  the  city  over  the  bar  to  thirty-five  feet  is  carried  into 
effect,  while  the  coast  trade  will  receive  a  new  impulse  when 
the  coastal  canal  is  constructed. 


LOOKING  FORWARD. 

The  development  of  our  resources  since  the  War  between 
the  States  probably  surpasses  that  of  any  other  country  in 
any  era  since  the  world  began. 

Our  Department  of  Agriculture  at  Washington  estimated 
the  production  and  value  of  fourteen  of  our  largest  farm 
crops  in  1913  at  nine  billions  of  dollars.  The  estimate  of 
our  Southern  cotton  crop  and  its  by-products  was  one  billion 
dollars.  The  acreage  of  this  vast  wealth-producing  area  is 
one-seventh  the  size  of  Continental  United  States ;  and  yet  we 
are  told  by  President  Brown,  an  eminent  authority,  that  con- 
sumption is  overtaking  production  with  alarming  rapidity, 
and  values  have  been  rising  by  leaps  and  bounds ;  also,  that 
gradually  improved  methods  of  agriculture  will  increase  the 
yield  per  acre,  but  the  supply  may  never  again  catch  up  with 
the  demand. 

Our  population,  now  bordering  upon  one  hundred  millions, 
must  continue  to  increase,  while  any  large  increase  in  the  area 


PEACE  RESTORED  585 

of  arable  land  is  a  matter  of  the  past.  Consumption  of  food 
stuffs  has  increased  in  the  past  ten  years  almost  three  times 
as  fast  as  acreage  and  almost  twice  as  fast  as  production. 

These  startling  developments  accentuate  the  importance 
of  conserving  and  utilizing  the  great  waterways  upon  whicli 
the  country  depends  for  the  movement  of  the  larger  proportion 
of  our  products.  Already  the  railroads  are  congested,  and 
water  transportation  becomes  increasingly  important. 

The  improvement  of  the  Cape  Fear  River  is,  therefore,  of 
momentous  significance  to  our  maritime  community  and  to 
the  State  at  large.  Increased  appropriations  should  be  sys- 
tematically sought  through  the  aid  of  our  representatives  in 
Congress  for  the  greater  deepening  and  widening  of  our  ship 
channel  to  the  sea ;  for  the  building  of  stone  jetties  upon  the 
shifting  sands  of  our  main  bar ;  for  the  building  of  anchorage 
dolphins  for  waiting  steamers,  which  can  not  swing  to  their 
anchors  in  our  limited  harbor  basin;  for  continuous  appro- 
priations to  sustain  the  important  works  already  accomplished, 
which  would  deteriorate  from  erosion  or  other  damage  should 
the  special  appropriations  fail  for  a  term  of  Congress. 

In  the  year  1851,  the  foreign  exports  of  Wilmington  were 
$431,095 ;  in  1912  they  were  $28,705,448. 

In  1851  our  carrying  trade  employed  small  sailing  vessels 
eighty  feet  to  two  hundred  feet  long,  of  two  hundred  to  four 
hundred  tons  net  register.  Now  it  requires  steamers  three 
hundred  to  four  hundred  feet  long,  of  two  thousand  to  three 
thousand  tons  register.  In  1851  a  vessel  cleared  from  Wil- 
mington was  a  large  carrier  if  it  could  take  one  thousand 
bales  of  cotton.  A  few  weeks  ago  the  steamer  HoUie  sailed 
majestically  down  our  river  laden  with  20,300  bales  of  cotton. 

Bearing  in  mind  these  changes,  consider  the  possibilities  of 
our  Cape  Fear  commerce  fifty  years  hence! 

Hundreds  of  great  merchantmen  will  lie  at  our  docks, 
taking  in  cargoes  for  coast  trade  and  foreign  commerce;  the 
aeroplane,  already  useful  to  man,  will  have  as  a  companion 
the  hydro-aeroplane,  skimming  the  surface  of  our  waters  at 
fifty  miles   an  hour,  transporting  passengers  and  mails  to 


586  CAPE  FEAR  CHRONICLES 

distant  ports — a  veritable  hand-maiden  of  commerce.  Indeed, 
it  is  the  opinion  of  many  experts  that  the  fljing-boat  will 
eventually  become  large  enough  for  commercial  purposes, 
the  horsepower  of  its  engines  running  into  thousands;  and 
that  it  will  be  used  for  pleasure,  like  the  steam  yacht  and 
motor  boat.  Elsewhere  I  have  said  that  the  traffic  of  our 
blockade  running  during  the  War  between  the  States  would 
ever  be  unique  in  the  history  of  the  Cape  Fear,  as  the  condi- 
tions that  sustained  it  can  never  occur  again.  Hereafter  it 
will  be  impossible  to  maintain  an  effective  blockade  because 
of  the  new  instrumentalities  of  warfare.  In  the  war  in 
progress  in  Europe — the  gi-eatest  war  in  human  history — the 
practical  value  of  the  aeroplane  and  of  the  Zeppelin  has  been 
thoroughly  demonstrated;  and  within  a  decade  the  flying- 
boat  will  likewise  become  available  both  for  commerce  and 
war.  Besides,  because  of  the  electric  searchlight,  the  tre- 
mendous range  and  accuracy  and  destructive  power  of  the 
modem  projectile,  and  because  of  the  submarine  mines,  tor- 
pedo boats,  and  other  destructive  craft  which  have  revolu- 
tionized warfare  in  the  past  fifty  years,  an  effective  blockade 
can  not  be  maintained. 

During  our  war  with  Great  Britain  in  1812,  an  attempt 
was  made  by  a  diving  vessel  of  the  Americans  to  destroy  the 
RamUlies,  a  ship  of  seventy-four  guns,  commanded  by  Sir 
Thomas  Hardy,  w^hich  was  blockading  the  port  of  jSTew  Lon- 
don. That  attempt  was  termed  "a  most  atrocious  proceed- 
ing," and  Sir  Thomas  adopted  a  very  ingenious  plan  for  pre- 
venting any  further  attack  being  made  on  his  ship  by  this 
diving  vessel.  He  ordered  one  hundred  American  prisoners 
of  war  to  be  brought  on  board  his  ship,  and  then  notified  their 
Government  that  in  the  event  of  the  RamUlies  being  torpedoed 
those  persons  would  share  the  fate  of  himself  and  his  crew. 
The  friends  and  relatives  of  the  prisoners  were  so  alarmed 
at  the  threats  of  Sir  Thomas  that  public  meetings  were  held, 
and  petitions  presented  to  the  American  Government  to  in- 
duce its  Executive  to  prohibit  the  use  of  the  diving  vessel  and 
its  armament  in  future  naval  warfare. 


PEACE  RESTORED  587 

When  we  recall  this  incident  and  compare  conditions  with 
those  of  today,  we  realize  that  there  is  no  limit  to  the  changes 
that  time  will  bring.  But  we  know  that  whatever  comes — 
whatever  progress  is  made — the  enterprising  people  of  the 
Cape  Fear  will  utilize  every  new  instrumentality  to  make 
sure  their  safety  and  to  secure  their  prosperity  and  welfare. 


Index 


Advance,  the,  375. 
Aids  to  Navigation,  487. 
Allen,  Eleazar,  44,  54,  60,  64,  65. 
Anderson,  John  W.,  369. 

Geo.  B.,  118. 
Armstrong,  E.  H.,  270. 
Association,  84,  87. 
Ashe,  John,  54,  57,  65,  72,  111,  544. 

John  B.,  544. 

Samuel,  110. 

Sam.,  Col.,  112,  113. 

S.  A.,  236,  368. 

Thomas  S.,  117. 

W.  S.,  129,  139,  268. 
Atkinson,  J.  W.,  269. 

Barry,  John  D.,  261,  525. 

Belden,  L.  S.,  270. 

Bellamy,  Dr.  J.  D.,  136. 

Bernard,  W.  H.,  261,  524. 

Berry,  J.  A.,  507. 

Bladen  County,  581. 

Blair,  J.  J.,  545. 

Blaney,  Geo.,  507. 

Blockade,  238. 

Blockade  runners,  372,  427,  440,  457. 

Bloodworth,  Timothy,  59. 

Boatwright,  J.  H.,  271. 

Bolles,  C.  P.,  148,  236,  270. 

Bonitz,  J.  A.,  526. 

Bonnett,  Steed,  40. 

Boston,  82. 

Boudinot,  W.  E.,  210. 

Boys'  Brigade,  555. 

Boyd,  Adam,  58,  520. 

Bradley,  A.  O.,  207. 
Amy  M.,  548. 

British  Flag,  439. 

Brown,  A.  A.,  521. 
A.  D.,  272. 
Thomas,  90,  92,  94. 

Brunswick,  42,  49,  66. 

Brunswick  County,  42,  578. 

Bunting,  T.  O.,  272. 


Burgwyn,  John,  119. 

George,  119. 
Burr,  J.  G.,  197. 

Talcott,  Jr.,  206,  521. 
Eurrington,  Geo.,  109. 
Burriss,  Ned.,  368. 
Bushnell,  D.  I.,  15. 

Calhoun,  J.  C,  155,  170. 
Calder,  R.  E.,  234,  273. 

William,  234,  274. 
Cantwell,  J.  L.,  231,  259. 
Cape  Fear,  1,  7,  9,  55,  126,  128,  129. 

River  Improvements,  474. 
Carmichael,  James,  274. 
Castle  Haynes,  118. 
Caswell,  Fort,  507. 
Carteret,  42,  43. 
Cazaux,  A.  D.,  275. 
Chadbourn,  J.  H.,  548,  549,  551. 
Charles  River,  35,  38. 
Charlestown,  27,  35,  37,  38. 
Charlotta,  43. 
Childs,  F.  L.,  236. 
Clarendon,  35. 
Clay,  Henry,  159. 
Clayton  Hall,  112. 
Coal,  145. 
Coastal  Canal,  510. 
Cochran,  Robt,  155. 
Colonial  Plantations,  55. 
Commission  Government,  512. 
Commissioners  of  Navigation,  476. 
Committee  of  Safety,  83. 
Congress,  Provincial,  86. 
Convention,  Provincial,  82. 
Confederate  Heroes,  253. 

Navy,  442. 

Roster,  333. 
Cornwallis,  Earl,  88,  89. 
Cowan,  John,  275. 

R.  H.,  200,  259. 
Craig,  James  M.,  88.  91. 

James  W.,  355. 


590 


INDEX 


Cuban  Man  of  War,  473. 
Cumberland  County,  577. 
Cumming,  J.  D.,  277. 

W.  M.,  277. 
Curtis,  A.  M.,  14. 

W.  G.,  149,  579. 
Cutlars,  the,  118. 

Davis,  Graham,  278. 

C.  T.  N.,  278. 

George,  1,  121,  219,  220. 

Jefferson,  224,  445. 

John,  44,  48,  121. 

Junius,  279. 

Thomas  F.,  210. 

Thomas  I.,  121. 
Dawson,  John,  138. 
DeRosset,  A.  J.,  58,  62,  70,  71,  125, 
136. 

M.  J.,  279. 

Mrs.  A.  J.,  249. 

Mrs.  L.  H.,  425. 

W.  L.,  237,  255. 
Dickinson,  P.  K.,  132. 
Dickson,  Dr.  J.  H.,  200,  219,  244. 
Dobbs,  Arthur,  79. 
Dragon,  Prison  ship,  258. 
Drane,  R.  B.,  124,  247. 
Dry,  William,  54,  73. 
Dudley,  E.  B.,  133,  163,  194,  199. 

E.  B.,  Jr.,  280. 
Duel— Wilkins-Flanner,  179. 
Duplin  County,  90. 

Earthquake,  496. 
Ecce  Homo,  54,  62. 
Electric  Railway,  575. 
Elizabethtown,  Battle  of,  90-94. 
Ellis,  C.  D.,  280. 
Emmons,  E.,  145. 
Ennett,  W.  T.,  258. 
Everitt,  Edward,  167. 
Exploration,  30. 

Fanning,  90. 

P.  W.,  203. 
Fayetteville,  150. 
Fennell,  Owen,  281. 


Fergus,  John,  58. 
Fillmore,  Millard,  157. 
Fires,  104,  469. 
Flanner,  J.  H.,  178. 

H.  G.,  281. 
Fort  Caswell,  231. 
Fort  Fisher,  344,  460. 
Fort  Johnston,  55,  63. 
Frankland,  Sir  Thomas,  64. 
Fremont,  S.  L.,  237. 
Frying  Pan  Shoals,  486,  487. 
Fulton,  Hamilton,  126. 

David,  522. 

James,  245,  522. 

Galloway,  Samuel,  579. 

Bishop,  581. 

Charles  M.,  580. 
Garden,  G.  L.,  494. 
Gautier,  Thomas  N.,  103. 
General  Assembly,  85. 
Goldsborough,  M.  T.,  134. 
Grainger,  Joshua,  49. 
Green,  W.  H.,  281. 

James  S.,  133,  199,  247. 

W.  M.,  200,  210. 
Greenhow,  Mrs.  458,  462. 

Hale,  E.  J.,  152,  282. 
Hall,  B.  F.,  283. 

Eli  W.,  205. 

E.  D.,  264. 
Harnett,  Cornelius,  58,  75,  122. 
Harriss,  W.  M.,  283. 
Hasell,  W.  S.,  121. 
Hedrick,  J.  J.,  232,  237,  260. 
Hemenway,  Mary,  548. 
Higgins,  Michael,  49,  198. 
Hill,  William,  58. 

Frederick  J.,  60,  118,  545. 

Gabriel  H.,  284. 

J.  A,  107,  201. 

John,  122. 

Dr.  John,  201. 

Dr.  John  H.,  108. 

Nathaniel,  118. 

Thomas,  284. 

William  H.,  111. 


INDEX 


591 


Highlanders,  the,  97. 
Hilton's  Report,  30. 
Hilton,  122. 
Hogue,  R.  W.,  64. 
Holmes,  J.  A.,  19,  145. 
Hooper,  A.  M.,  212. 

Johnson,  212. 

William,  57,  59. 
Howe,  Robert,  55,  63. 
Houston,  Dr.,  68,  70. 
Huggins,  G.  W.,  284. 

Indians,  Cape  Fear,  13,  15,  26. 

Lumber  River,  40. 
Indian  Battle,  Sugar  Loaf,  16. 

Mounds,  19. 

Pottery,  17. 

Wars,  37,  41. 
Innes,  James,  198. 
Internal  Improvements,  130. 

James,  Hinton,  126. 

John  S.,  202. 

Joshua  T.,  247. 

J.  C,  285. 

T.  C,  285. 
James  and  Burr  School,  547. 
Jefferson,  Joe,  216. 
Jewett,  Stephen,  184,  286. 

George  B.,  184. 
Jewett's  School,  190. 
Johnston,  Gabriel,  49. 
Jones,  Frederick,  117. 

John  D.,  200. 

J.  P.,  148,  286. 

Thomas,  238. 

Keith,  B.  F.,  541. 
Kelly,  Hanson,  156. 
Kenan,  James,  84,  90. 

W.  R.,  287. 
Kidder,  G.  W.,  287. 
Kingsbury,  T.  B.,  529. 
Kyle,  W.  E.,  288. 

Lamb,  Wm.,  288,  349. 
Lane,  Ezekiel,  115. 
Levin,  115. 


Latta,  J.  R.,  289. 
Lee,  D.  W.,  367. 
Lewis,  T.  C.,  291. 
Leon,  L.,  290. 
Libraries,  65. 
Life  Saving  Service,  484. 
Lighthouses,  491. 
Lilian,  the,  242,  365. 
Lillington,  Alex.,  58,  72,  89,  90,  115, 
116. 
J.  A..  211. 
Lippitt,  J.    W.,  292. 
Lloyd,  Thomas,  72. 
Lobb,  Capt,  21,  73. 
Lockwood's  Folly,  40,  43,  44. 
Lockwood,  T.  J.,  437. 
Lord,  W.  C,  200. 
Lords  Proprietors,  28. 
Loring,  Thomas,  200,  521. 
Loyalists,  87,  98. 
Lyde,  A.  W.,  210. 

McClammy,  C.  W.,  292. 
McDougald,  G.  C,  434,  438. 
Mcllhenny,  T.  C,  164. 
Mclntire,  R.  M.,  296. 
McKay,  J.  I.,  175. 
McKoy,  T.  H.,  297. 

W.  B.,  534. 
McMillan,  W.  G.,  293. 
McNeill,  Arch,  199. 
McQueen,  H.  C,  298. 
McRee,  J.  G.,  57. 

G.  F.,  114,  200. 

G.  F.,  Jr.,  297. 
MacRae,   Alex.,   100,   133,   139,    260, 
293,  571. 

Donald,  208. 

Hugh,  571. 

R.  B.,  295. 

Walter,  294. 

William,  100,  295. 
Mabson,  Arthur,  122. 
Macdonald,  Flora,  95,  100. 
Maclaine,  Arch.,  58,  65. 
Macrae,  David,  95. 
Maffitt,  J.  N.,  vii,  147,  408,  442. 
Maglenn,  James,  379. 


592 


INDEX 


Marsteller,  L.  H.,  202. 
Martin,  Mrs.  Alfred,  251. 

E.  G.,  300. 

G.  N.,  547. 

Josiah,  87. 
Mary  Celeste,  the,  369,  395. 
Massachusetts'  Relief,  37. 
Maultsby,  John,  49. 
Meares,  Gaston,  255. 

E.  G.,  302. 

Iredell,  153,  499. 

O.  P.,  182,  219,  301. 

T.  D.,  301. 

W.  B.,  199. 
Metts,  J.  I.,  302. 
Milan,  A.,  212. 
Miller,  James  A.,  307. 

James  T.,  157,  205,  247. 

John,  297,  307. 
Monroe,  President,  104. 
Moore,  Alfred,  59,  115. 

A.  D.,  267. 

George,  75,  116,  117. 

James,  41,  55,  58. 

J.  O.,  307. 

J.  W.,  307. 

Maurice,  58,  65,  114, 

Nathaniel,  44,  45. 

Parker  Quince,  516. 

Roger,  44,  59. 

Maj.  Roger,  267. 
Moore's  Creek,  88,  99,  116. 
Morris  Island,  260,  276,  289, 
Morrison,  Geo.,  378. 
Moseley,  Edward,  54,  65. 

Sampson,  112. 
Murchison,  J.  R.,  313. 

D.  R.,  311. 

K.  M.,  60,  307. 
Muse,  W.  T.,  315. 
Myers,  C.  D.,  307. 

N.  C.  Gazette,  68. 

Newspapers,  519. 

New  Hanover  County,  42,  104,  149. 

New  Liverpool,  49. 

Newkirk,  A.  W.,  316. 

Newton,  47,  49. 


Negro  Insurrection,  107. 
Northrop,  Isaac,  247. 

W.  H.,  316. 
Nutt,  H.,  2. 

Oil  on  Seas,  493. 
Oldham,  Capt,  316. 
Old  Style,  64. 
Orton,  42,  43,  60. 
Overman,  L.  S.,  487. 
Owen,  James,  134. 

Paddison,  R.  P.,  317. 
Parsley,  O.  G.,  197. 

W.  M.,  219,  256. 

Mrs.  W.  M.,  219,  225. 
Patterson,  George,  317. 
Pennington,  William,  58,  77. 
Phipps,  Capt.,  73. 
Pilots,  354. 
Pirates,  39. 

Planters  on  River,  55. 
Polk,  President,  156. 
Porter,  E.,  321. 
Pratt,  J.  H.,  145. 
Price,  Alfred  L.,  522. 

Joseph,  321. 
Pritchard,  J.  L.,  247. 
Purviance,  Col.,  88. 

Quince,  Parker,  121. 

Radcliffe,  J.  D.,  266. 
Railroads,  130. 

A.  C.  L.,  559. 

S.  A.  L.,  565. 

Southport,  505. 

W.  &  M.,  141. 

W.  &  R.,  132,  133. 
Raleigh,  C.  S.  S.,  448. 

U.  S.  S.,  498. 
Rankin,  R.  G.,  232,  321. 

J.  T.,  322. 
Ransom,  M.  W.,  129. 
Reed,  E.  C,  357,  406. 
Reilly,  James,  232,  322,  348. 
Reston,  John  R.,  206. 
Revenue  Cutter  Service,  478. 


INDEX 


593 


Revolution,  82,  87. 

of  1898,  558. 
Rhett,  40,  60, 
Robinson,  C.  H.,  323. 

F.  G.,  323. 
Rock  Creek,  90. 
Rocky  Point,  28,  47,  61. 
Russellborough,  78,  80. 
Rutherford,  Col.,  90. 

St.  James,  123. 
St.  Philips,  63,  66. 
Sampson,  John,  54. 

Michael,  118. 
Sandford's  Narrative,  35. 
Sanford,  Thomas,  206. 
Savage,  Henry,  324. 

Edward,  324. 
Scotch,  the,  95. 
Seminole,  the,  479,  484. 
Settlement,  28,  41. 
Shackleford,  324. 
Shepard,  J.  C,  325. 
Simmons,  F.  M.,  129. 
Small,  J.  H.,  511. 
Smith,  J.  A.,  325. 

Benj.,  60,  63,  503. 

James,  60. 

Landgrave,  40. 
Social  conditions,  55,  57,  504. 
Southport,  503. 
Spanish  Invasion,  54. 
Stag  Park,  28,  109. 
Stamp  Act,  67. 
Steamboats,  103,  128,  151. 
Steele,  Capt,  368. 
Stevenson,  J.  M.,  266,  325. 

Daniel,  326. 

J.  C,  326. 

W.  M.,  327. 
Stewart,  Miss  Kate,  581. 
Sprunt,  J.  M.,  327. 

Alexander,  v. 
Swann,  John,  47,  54. 
Swift,  A.  J.,  507. 

Taft,  President,  499. 
Tait,  George,  265. 


Tate,  James,  544. 
Taylor,  J.  A.,  518. 

J.  D.,  262. 

M.  P.,  327. 

T.  E.,  410. 

Walker,  555,  556. 
Thalian  Association,  198. 

members,  200. 
Thurston,  S.  D.,  232,  256. 
Tories,  90. 
Troy,  Alex.,  107. 
Tryon,  Gov.,  62. 
Tuscarora  War,  41. 

Usina,  M.  P.,  387. 

Van  Amringe,  C.  W.,  247. 
Van  Bokkelen,  A.  H.,  547. 

J.  P.  S.,  327. 
Vassal,  Henry,  28. 

John,  28,  38. 

Waccamaw  Lake,  47. 
Waddell,  Hugh,  72,  118. 

A.  M.,  55,  267. 
Walker,  Carlton,  112. 

John,  103. 

Julius,  199. 

W.  M.,  182. 
Washington,  President,  153. 
Water-Power  Co.,  573. 
Wars,  Indian,  29,  37. 

Spanish,  54. 

Tuscarora,  41. 
Watson,  A.  A.,  328. 

John,  49. 
Webster,  Daniel,  163. 
Whigs,  89. 
Whiting,  W.  H.  C,  236,  254,  347-9, 

451. 
Wilmington,  49,  50,  53. 

bar,  533. 

business  men,  142. 

capture  of,  466. 

commerce,  140,  142,  582. 

custom  house,  541. 

during  blockade,  239,  451. 

during  war,  384. 


594 


INDEX 


Wilmington,  evacuated,  91. 

fires,  105,  469. 

government,  512. 

growtli,  576. 

memorial  association,  229. 

military  companies,  227. 

newspapers,  519. 

occupied,  88. 

population,  104. 

public  spirit,  140. 

public  buildings,  534. 

soldiers  aid  society,  249. 

schools,  543. 

war  prices,  252. 

yellow  fever,  104,  243. 
Wiggins,  0.  A.,  328. 
Wilkes,  Capt  146. 
Wilkings,  W.  C,  177. 
Wilkinson,  John,  380. 
Williams,  J.  M.,  329. 

A.  B.,  329. 

David,  331. 

Robt,  331. 
Wilson,  President,  501. 


Winder,  John  C,  236. 
Winslow,  J.  A.,  210. 
Wimble,  James,  49. 
Wright,  A.  E.,  332. 

C.  J.,  199. 

J.  A.,  207,  332. 

J.  G.,  199. 

J.  G.,  Jr.,  332. 

T.  C,  332. 

T.  H.,  200. 

W.  A.,  135. 

W.  H.,  210. 
Wooster,  J.  L.,  332. 

W.  A.,  332. 
Wood,  R.  B.,  138. 

Thos.  F.,  244,  331. 
Worth,  T.  C,  vi. 

B.  G.,  vi. 

D.  G.,  473. 

Yates,  C.  W.,  333. 
Yeamans,  Sir  John,  29,  35, 
Yellow  Fever,  104,  243. 
Yopon,  14. 


